Escherichia coli O157 somatic antigen is present in an isolate of E. fergusonii.
A bacterium that tested positive with antibodies specific for Escherichia coli O157 was isolated from beef during routine screening procedures. The bacterium was identified as E. fergusonii by biochemical testing and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA. The isolate was tested for the presence of genes encoding Shiga toxins, the E. coli attaching and effacing factor, enterohemolysin, and the O157 O antigen. The isolate tested negative for Shiga toxins and other E. coli O157 virulence markers but was found to harbor the genes encoding the O157 antigen. These results suggest genetic transfer of the O antigen gene cluster between E. coli O157:H7 and E. fergusonii.
Fegan
Narelle
N
Food Science Australia, P. O. Box 3312, Tingalpa DC, 4173, Queensland, Australia. narelle.fegan@csiro.au
Barlow
Robert Steven
RS
Gobius
Kari Steven
KS
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004925:Escherichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D019081:O Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D019081:O Antigens