biostudies-literaturePinto GFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia366https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8136144biostudies-literatureUnknown22(1)<h4>Background</h4>A total of 179 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) complete genomes were analyzed in terms of serotypes, prophage coding regions, and stx gene variants and their distribution. We further examined the genetic diversity of Stx-converting phage genomes (Stx phages), focusing on the lysis-lysogeny decision and lytic cassettes.<h4>Results</h4>We show that most STEC isolates belong to non-O157 serotypes (73 %), regardless the sources and geographical regions. While the majority of STEC genomes contain a single stx gene (61 %), strains containing two (35 %), three (3 %) and four (1 %) stx genes were also found, being stx2 the most prevalent gene variant. Their location is exclusively found in intact prophage regions, indicating that they are phage-borne. We further deBMC genomicsInsights into the genome architecture and evolution of Shiga toxin encoding bacteriophages of Escherichia coli.PMC8136144SFRH/BD/117365/2016PhageSTEC PTDC/CVT-CVT/29628/2017 [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029628]UIDB/04469/2020Almeida CSampaio MPinto GDias OOliveira HAzeredo JfalseInsights into the genome architecture and evolution of Shiga toxin encoding bacteriophages of Escherichia coli.<h4>Background</h4>A total of 179 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) complete genomes were analyzed in terms of serotypes, prophage coding regions, and stx gene variants and their distribution. We further examined the genetic diversity of Stx-converting phage genomes (Stx phages), focusing on the lysis-lysogeny decision and lytic cassettes.<h4>Results</h4>We show that most STEC isolates belong to non-O157 serotypes (73 %), regardless the sources and geographical regions. While the majority of STEC genomes contain a single stx gene (61 %), strains containing two (35 %), three (3 %) and four (1 %) stx genes were also found, being stx2 the most prevalent gene variant. Their location is exclusively found in intact prophage regions, indicating that they are phage-borne. We further de2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 May2025-04-18T14:54:15.539Z2025-04-07T01:13:17.835ZS-EPMC81361443401128810.1186/s12864-021-07685-0