Inhibition of experimental ascending urinary tract infection by an epithelial cell-surface receptor analogue

It has been shown that the establishment of urinary tract infection by Escherichia coli is dependent on attachment of the bacteria to epithelial cells. The attachment involves specific epithelial cell receptors, which have been characterized as glycolipids. Reversible binding to cell-surface mannosides may also be important. This suggests an approach to the treatment of infections--that of blocking bacterial attachment with cell membrane receptor analogues. Using E. coli mutants lacking one or other of the two binding specificities (glycolipid and mannose), we show here that glycolipid analogues can block in vitro adhesion and in vivo urinary tract infection.