Rapid and accurate identification of Escherichia coli K-12 strains.
A specific PCR for the identification of K-12 strains, based on the genetic structure of the O-antigen gene cluster (rfb) of Escherichia coli K-12, is described. The assay clearly differentiates E. coli K-12-derived strains from other E. coli strains used in the laboratory or isolated from human and animal clinical specimens, from food, or from environmental samples. Moreover, lineages of K-12 strains can be distinguished with a second PCR based on the same gene cluster. The method presents a useful tool in identifying K-12 for monitoring strains which are used as biologically safe vehicles in biotechnological research, development, and production processes.
Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
P
P
Kuhnert
J
J
Nicolet
J
J
Frey
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D019081:O Antigens; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D019081:O Antigens