Organization of fimbriate cells in colonies of Escherichia coli strain 3040.

Immunofluorescence staining with fimbria-specific antibodies was used to study the organization of fimbriate cells in colonies of Escherichia coli strain 3040. The strain has both type-1 and S fimbriae and shows fast phase variation between the fimbrial types. Colonies stained in sectors whose length and number per colony were dependent on the fimbrial phase of progeny cells. It is proposed that such sectors result from fimbrial phase variation.