title: Phylogenetic analysis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, Germany, 1987-2008.
abstract: Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) is a subtyping technique for characterizing human pathogenic bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157. We determined the phylogeny of 202 epidemiologically unrelated EHEC O157:H7/H- clinical isolates through 8 MLVA loci obtained in Germany during 1987-2008. Biodiversity in the loci ranged from 0.66 to 0.90. Four of 8 loci showed null alleles and a frequency < or =44.1%. These loci were distributed among 48.5% of all strains. Overall, 141 MLVA profiles were identified. Phylogenetic analysis assigned 67.3% of the strains to 19 MLVA clusters. Specific MLVA profiles with an evolutionary persistence were identified, particularly within sorbitol-fermenting EHEC O157:H-.These pathogens belonged to the same MLVA cluster. Our findings indicate successful persistence of this clone.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Hygiene, Munster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jenke
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harmsen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weniger
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothganger
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hyytia-Trees
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielaszewska
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mellmann
mesh_terms: D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction