title: Evolutionary origins and sequence of the Escherichia coli O4 O-antigen gene cluster.
abstract: Escherichia coli express many types of O antigen, present in the outer membrane of the Gram-negative bacterial cell wall. O-Antigen biosynthesis genes are clustered together and differences seen in O-antigen types are due to genetic variation within this gene cluster. Sequencing of the E. coli O4 O-antigen gene cluster revealed a similar gene order and high levels of similarity to that of E. coli O26; indicating a common ancestor. These lateral transfer events observed within O-antigen gene clusters may occur as part of the evolution of the pathogenic clones.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Jocelyne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Gabrielle N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Reeves
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D019081:O Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D019081:O Antigens