Distribution of the urease gene cluster among and urease activities of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 isolates from humans.

ABSTRACT: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 strains belong to two closely related major groups, which are differentiated by their sorbitol fermentation phenotypes. Here we studied the conservation of urease genes and their expression in sorbitol-fermenting (SF) and non-SF EHEC O157 isolates. PCR targeting ure genes (ureA, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F, and -G) demonstrated that each of these genes was present in 58 of 59 EHEC O157:H7 isolates. In contrast, none of 82 SF EHEC O157:NM (nonmotile) isolates contained any of the ure genes. Hence, the absence of the urease genes distinguishes SF EHEC O157:NM strains from EHEC O157:H7, but this absence demonstrates that the urease genes are not useful genetic targets for the detection of EHEC strains, because SF EHEC O157:NM strains are missed by such a

SUBMITTER: Friedrich AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC548110 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature