Identification of sequence diversity in the Escherichia coli fliC genes encoding flagellar types H8 and H40 and its use in typing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O8, O22, O111, O174, and O179 strains.

ABSTRACT: Flagellar type H8 is associated with many strains of pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), such as O8, O22, O111, O174, and O179 strains. Serological typing of the H8 antigen is limited to motile strains only and suffers from cross-reactivity between flagellar H8 and H40 antigens. In order to develop a method useful for typing of motile and nonmotile STEC O111 and other strains, we have analyzed the flagellar antigen (fliC) genes in representative E. coli H8 and H40 types. Two genotypes of the fliC gene encoding H8 (the fliC-H8 gene) were identified. Genotype fliC-H8a was found to be conserved in STEC O111, O174, and O179 strains; and type fliC-H8b was associated with STEC O8 and O22 strains. Sequence variations were also found in the genetically closely related fliC-H4

SUBMITTER: Beutin L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1829044 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature