E.coli gets attached to a surface with the help of –
**Core Concept:**
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. One of its survival strategies is attaching to surfaces, which can be vital for colonization, infection or biofilm formation. The process of attachment involves specific interactions between bacterial adhesins and host receptors.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**
E. coli uses its adhesins, which are proteins that interact with host receptors to facilitate attachment. The correct answer, **Option C: FimH**, is a specific type of adhesin found on the type 1 fimbriae. FimH is a lectin that binds to mannose residues on host cell surfaces, allowing E. coli to adhere to surfaces like mucosal surfaces in the urinary tract, thus facilitating infection.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
Option A (PapG) is another adhesin found in some E. coli strains, but it binds to glucosyl residues, not mannose. This makes it incorrect for the urinary tract attachment, where mannose is abundant. Option B (PorA) is a protein found in some E. coli strains, but it is a porin that facilitates passive diffusion of molecules through the outer membrane and is not involved in attachment. Option D (SfaS) is another adhesin, but it binds to sialic acid residues, not mannose, which is the correct receptor for FimH.
**Clinical Pearl:**
Understanding the specific adhesins and their ligands is crucial for diagnosing and treating infections caused by E. coli. For example, urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by E. coli are often treated by targeting the FimH adhesin, which can be inhibited by mannose analogs like alpha-mannopyranoside.
In summary, E. coli uses the FimH adhesin, specifically targeting mannose residues on host cell surfaces to facilitate attachment, making Option C the correct answer.