The expression of an R3 lipopolysaccharide-core by pathotypes of Escherichia coli.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of an R3 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-core amplicon in a range of pathotypes of Escherichia coli, including Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC).


RESULTS
A total of 100 strains of E. coli belonging to a range of pathotypes, including 41 strains of VTEC, were screened for the genes encoding the R3 LPS-core using PCR. Fifty-four per cent produced an amplicon with the R3 primer set. Of the 41 VTEC, 66% had an R3 LPS-core with a PCR product being observed with all strains belonging to serotypes O26:H11, O111ac:H- and O145:H25. However, 46% of enteroaggregative E. coli and 50% of enteropathogenic E. coli were also shown to have an R3 LPS-core structure.


CONCLUSIONS
Strains with an R3 LPS-core are widely distributed within the species E. coli.


CONCLUSIONS
Strains of E. coli with an R3 LPS-core structure appear not to be associated with a specific pathotype.
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Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK. henrik.chart@hpa.org.uk
Perry
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Jenkins
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D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D022603:Shiga Toxins