Antigenic and immunogenic activity of flagella and fimbriae preparations from uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis.

The antigenic and immunogenic activities of fimbriae and flagella from three uropathogenic strains of Proteus mirabilis were compared. Flagella were obtained by mechanical treatment and fimbriae were isolated from cells by heat shock, ammonium sulfate precipitation, sodium deoxycholate and urea treatment, and gel filtration. Both preparations inoculated to mice demonstrated high antigenicity. Titers up to 1:80,000 were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay either against the homologous or heterologous strains. When immunized mice were challenged with homologous or heterologous hematogenous infecting doses, a good cross protection was achieved only when fimbriae were used as antigens. Cross-reactivity found between the three fimbriae antisera, and the presence of common proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of fimbriae, should validate the study of these proteins to determine the existence of a shared adhesin.