Examination of the Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Population Structure during Human Infection.

ABSTRACT:

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Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) can cause severe diarrhea and death in children in developing countries; however, bacterial diversity in natural infection is uncharacterized. In this study, we explored the natural population variation of ETEC from individuals with cholera-like diarrhea. Genomic sequencing and comparative analysis of multiple ETEC isolates from twelve cases of severe diarrhea demonstrated clonal populations in the majority of subjects (10/12). In contrast, a minority of individuals (2/12) yielded phylogenomically divergent ETEC isolates. Detailed examination revealed that isolates also differed in virulence factor content. These genomic data suggest that severe, cholera-like ETEC infections are largely caused by a clonal population of organisms within indi

SUBMITTER: Sahl JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4462620 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature