Pigeon and dove eggwhite protect mice against renal infection due to P fimbriated Escherichia coli

Pigeon and dove eggwhite exhibit high level P₁ antigenic activity and are potent and specific inhibitors of adherence mediated by P fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. To evaluate pigeon and dove eggwhite as P fimbrial receptor analogues in the prevention of ascending renal infection, mice were challenged with a P fimbriated E. coli urosepsis isolate suspended in saline alone or in saline plus various inhibitors of adherence, including D-mannose, globoside, and chicken, dove, and pigeon eggwhite. D-mannose inhibited mannose-sensitive adherence but not P fimbrial adherence, and failed to prevent renal infection. Globoside and chicken eggwhite also failed to inhibit P fimbrial adherence; chicken eggwhite had little and globoside had no impact on renal infection. In contrast, dove and pigeon eggwhite eliminated P fimbrial adherence and significantly reduced the incidence and intensity of renal infection. These findings suggest that pigeon and dove eggwhite provide P₁-antigen-specific protection against ascending renal infection in mice due to P fimbriated uropathogenic E. coli.