PURPOSE: Vaccinium macrocarpon--the American cranberry--irreversibly inhibits the expression of P-fimbriae of @entity526 . Further effects on the function and expression of P-fimbriae were studied by growing P-fimbriated @entity526 in solid media laced with cranberry juice. METHODS: Cranberry concentrate at pH 7.0 was added to @entity3795 medium to a final concentration of 25%. @entity526 strains JR1 and DS17 were plated on this medium with a plain @entity3795 control and incubated at 37C. Cultures were tested for ability to agglutinate P-receptor specific beads. Bacteria were washed in PBS and agglutination retested. Cultures were also replated on plain @entity3795 agar and rechecked for their ability to agglutinate. Transmission electron micrographs were performed on positive control and test bacteria. RESULTS: For @entity526 JR1, P-fimbrial agglutination was inhibited after the third plating. DS17 was fully inhibited after the second plating. Washing in PBS did not affect agglutination, but replating on @entity3795 agar allowed agglutination to recur. Electron micrographic study of control populations confirmed fimbriae. Fully inhibited bacteria had a 100% reduction in expression of fimbriae. Additionally, inhibited bacteria showed cellular elongation. CONCLUSIONS: Cranberry juice irreversibly inhibits P-fimbriae. Electron micrographic evidence suggests that cranberry juice acts on the cell wall preventing proper attachment of the fimbrial subunits or as a genetic control preventing the expression of normal fimbrial subunits or both.

Loss of fimbrial adhesion with the addition of Vaccinum macrocarpon to the growth medium of P-fimbriated XXXX .

@entity3795 :: ('31658', 'Species') :: ['CFA'] @entity526 :: ('562', 'Species') :: ['E. coli', 'E. coli strain']
@entity526 :: (562,Species) :: ['Escherichia coli']
