Identification of the O-antigen biosynthesis genes of Escherichia coli O91 and development of a O91 PCR serotyping test.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were to characterize the O91 O-antigen gene cluster from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O91 and to provide the basis for a specific PCR test for rapid detection of E. coli O91.


RESULTS
The published primers complementary to JUMPstart and gnd gene, the conserved flanking sequences of O-antigen genes clusters in E. coli and related species were used to amplify the 10-kbp O91 O-antigen biosynthesis locus of STEC O91. A DNA library representative of this cluster allowed two O91 specific probes to be identified, and two specific PCR O91 serotyping tests to be successfully developed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm that the O-antigen gene cluster sequences of E. coli allow rapidly a specific O-antigen PCR assay to be designed.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings increase the number of PCR-assays available to replace the classical O-serotyping among E. coli O-antigen.
Perelle
S
S
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches sur l'Hygiène et la Qualité des Aliments, Unité: Atelier de Biotechnologie, Maisons-Alfort, France. s.perelle@afssa.fr
Dilasser
F
F
Grout
J
J
Fach
P
P
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015342:DNA Probes; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D005810:Multigene Family; D019081:O Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods*; D022621:Shiga Toxin / Q000235:genetics
D015342:DNA Probes; D019081:O Antigens; D022621:Shiga Toxin