P Fimbria–Specific B Cell Responses in Patients with Urinary Tract Infection

Local immune response may be important in defense against urinary tract infection (UTI). P fimbria, an important virulence factor of Escherichia coli is a noteworthy candidate for use in a vaccine against pyelonephritis (PN). Eleven patients with PN and 14 patients with lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) caused by E. coli were studied for mucosa-derived antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) and for urinary antibodies. In the 10 patients with P-fimbriated (P+) E. coli an ASC response to P fimbria was found in 5 of 5 patients who had PN and 1 of 5 patients who had LUTI. The response to P fimbria was stronger among patients with P+ PN than among patients with PN caused by non–P-fimbriated E. coli (P−) (P