Sequence-based typing of genetic targets encoded outside of the O-antigen gene cluster is indicative of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroup lineages.
Serogroup classifications based upon the O-somatic antigen of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) provide significant epidemiological information on clinical isolates. Each O-antigen determinant is encoded by a unique cluster of genes present between the gnd and galF chromosomal genes. Alternatively, serogroup-specific polymorphisms might be encoded in loci that are encoded outside of the O-antigen gene cluster. Segments of the core bacterial loci mdh, gnd, gcl, ppk, metA, ftsZ, relA and metG for 30 O26 STEC strains have previously been sequenced, and comparative analyses to O157 distinguished these two serogroups. To screen these loci for serogroup-specific traits within a broader range of clinically significant serogroups, DNA sequences were obtained for 19 strains of 10 additional STEC serogroups. Unique alleles were observed at the gnd locus for each examined STEC serogroup, and this correlation persisted when comparative analyses were extended to 144 gnd sequences from 26 O-serogroups (comprising 42 O : H-serotypes). These included O157, O121, O103, O26, O5 : non-motile (NM), O145 : NM, O113 : H21, O111 : NM and O117 : H7 STEC; and furthermore, non-toxin encoding O157, O26, O55, O6 and O117 strains encoded distinct gnd alleles compared to STEC strains of the same serogroup. DNA sequencing of a 643 bp region of gnd was, therefore, sufficient to minimally determine the O-antigen of STEC through molecular means, and the location of gnd next to the O-antigen gene cluster offered additional support for the co-inheritance of these determinants. The gnd DNA sequence-based serogrouping method could improve the typing capabilities for STEC in clinical laboratories, and was used successfully to characterize O121 : H19, O26 : H11 and O177 : NM clinical isolates prior to serological confirmation during outbreak investigations.
Gilmour
Matthew W
MW
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.|National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.
Olson
Adam B
AB
National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.
Andrysiak
Ashleigh K
AK
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ng
Lai-King
LK
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.|National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.
Chui
Linda
L
Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019081:O Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D019081:O Antigens; D022603:Shiga Toxins; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase