Single-Cell-Based Digital PCR Detection and Association of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serogroups and Major Virulence Genes.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli serogroups O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, when carrying major virulence genes, the Shiga toxin genes stx₁ and stx₂ and the intimin gene eae, are important foodborne pathogens. They are referred to as the "top 7" Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serogroups and were declared by the USDA as adulterants to human health. Since top 7 serogroup-positive cattle feces and ground beef can also contain nonadulterant E. coli strains, regular PCR cannot confirm whether the virulence genes are carried by adulterant or nonadulterant E. coli serogroups. Thus, traditional gold-standard STEC detection requires bacterial isolation and characterization, which are not compatible with high-throughput setting

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7041568 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature