E. coli adherence to bladder epithelial cells of mice.

Adherence of E. coli to bladder cells was studied by mixing E. coli with cells scraped from the surface of the normal mouse bladder. E. coli adherence to bladder epithelium did not correlate with renal infection, the ability of E. coli to resist phagocytosis, the growth of the strains, the presence of K-antigen or dulcitol fermentation. There was also no correlation with proportion of deaths, motility, or rough mutation. Pili were observed in three of the 22 strains of E. coli and their presence was not associated with increased virulence. In this model of renal infection neither adherence of E. coli to bladder epithelial cells nor the presence of pili were significant virulence factors.