Genetic and Ecological Diversity of Escherichia coli and Cryptic Escherichia Clades in Subtropical Aquatic Environments.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli not only inhabit the large intestines of human and warm-blooded animals but could also persist in the external environment. However, current knowledge was largely based on host-associated strains. Moreover, cryptic Escherichia clades that were often misidentified as E. coli by conventional diagnostic methods were discovered. Failure to distinguish them from E. coli sensu stricto could lead to inaccurate conclusions about the population genetics of E. coli. Based on seven housekeeping genes, we determine the genetic and ecological diversity of E. coli and cryptic clades as they occupy aquatic habitats with different characteristics and human impact levels in subtropical Hong Kong. Contrary to previous reports, clade II was the most

SUBMITTER: Koh XP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8891540 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature