Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University
Abstract
Fimbriate Vibrio cholerae O1 (classical in biotype) were selectively induced in the presence of chitin and thioproline. Fimbriate vibrios detectable by cell agglutination with anti-E1 Tor fimbriae antiserum formed pellicle when cultured in liquid media under static conditions and were highly hydrophobic. Fimbriate vibrios agglutinated several kinds of red blood cells (RBCs, human type O, sheep, chicken, horse) and showed highest haemag-glutinating (HA) activity for horse-RBCs, although parent non-fimbriate cells had no HA activity. Pellicle formation and HA activity of fimbriate cells were completely inhibited by 1% monosaccharides such as D-mannose, D-glucose, D-fructose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, but not by L-fucose. Numerous pores with a regular diameter were found on an outer membrane debris through which fimbriae may extend extracellularly
