Use of deoxyribose by intestinal and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli strains: a metabolic adaptation involved in competitiveness.

ABSTRACT: We showed that the deoK operon, which confers the ability to use deoxyribose as a carbon source, is more common among pathogenic than commensal Escherichia coli strains. The expression of the deoK operon increases the competitiveness of clinical isolates, suggesting that this biochemical characteristic plays a role in host infectivity.

SUBMITTER: Bernier-Febreau C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC517565 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature