Epidemiological Status and Role in Virulence of Antigen 43; The Major Autotransporter and Surface Antigen of Escherichia Coli

There is growing appreciation that Antigen 43 (Ag43) of Escherichia coli is a virulence factor of importance. This major outer membrane protein is surface expressed, undergoes reversible phase-variation, displays a high level of homology to the recently described family of proteins termed autotransporters and exists in multiple copy in certain pathogenic E. coli strains. Current evidence suggests that Ag43 plays an important role in cell survival. <P>
This project seeks to define the aspects of Ag43 that might be associated with specific clinical infections. We seek to define the contribution of Ag43 expression to infection, determining whether production contributes to surface colonisation and to biofilm formation. We will establish whether Ag43 phase variation contributes to the ability of E. coli to survive within its ecological niches.