Characterization of Escherichia coli O86 O-antigen gene cluster and identification of O86-specific genes.
Escherichia coli O86 belongs to the enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) group, some strains of which are pathogens of humans, wild birds and farm animals. The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O86 was amplified by long-range PCR using primers based on the housekeeping genes galF and gnd, and then sequenced. Genes involved in GDP-Fuc and N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) synthesis and genes encoding glycosyltransferases, O-unit flippase and O-antigen polymerase were identified on the basis of homology. By screening against 186 E. coli and Shigella-type strains, two genes specific to E. coli O86 were identified. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, based on the specific O-antigen genes identified here, could be used for the rapid detection of E. coli O86 in environmental and clinical samples. The relationship between E. coli O86 and O127 was also determined by comparing the two O-antigen gene clusters.
Feng
Lu
L
Teda School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, Teda College, Tianjin 300457, China. fenglu63@nankai.edu.cn
Han
Weiqing
W
Wang
Quan
Q
Bastin
David A
DA
Wang
Lei
L
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D019081:O Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012703:Serotyping; D012760:Shigella / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D019081:O Antigens