Adhesion and invasion by Escherichia coli K1

Abstract

Escherichia coli is one of the principal causes of septicaemia and meningitis in neonates. Sepsis occurs in approximately one in every thousand live births, with up to 10% progressing to develop meningitis. A disproportionate number of these infections are caused by strains expressing the K1 capsule; up to 40% of septicaemia isolates and 80% of meningitis isolates. To date, most studies have focused on immune evasion and bacterial penetration of the blood-brain barrier. More than 15 E coli proteins have been shown to contribute to these events, including: OmpA, YijP, IbeA and IbeB. However it is still unclear how the bacteria first colonise and then invade the epithelial surfaces prior to septicaemia.