Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341795
Research Project: Molecular Characterization of Foodborne Pathogen Responses to Stress

Location: Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens

Title: Molecular genotyping of Escherichia coli O-serogroups

Author
item DEBROY, CHITRITA - Pennsylvania State University
item Fratamico, Pina
item ROBERTS, ELIZABETH - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Animal Health Research Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/26/2017
Publication Date: 2/22/2018
Citation: Debroy, C., Fratamico, P.M., Roberts, E. 2018. Molecular genotyping of Escherichia coli O-serogroups. Animal Health Research Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1466252317000093.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: O-antigens present on the surface of E. coli, provide antigenic specificity for the strain and are the main components for O-serogroup designation. Serotyping using O-group-specific antisera for the identification of E. coli O-serogroups has been traditionally the gold-standard for distinguishing E. coli strains. Knowledge of the O-group is important for determining pathogenic lineage, classifying E. coli for epidemiological studies, for determining virulence, and for tracing outbreaks of diseases and sources of infection. However, serotyping has limitations, as the antisera generated against each specific O-group may cross react, many strains are non-typeable, and others can autoagglutinate or be rough (lacking an O-antigen). Currently, the nucleotide sequences are available for most of the 187 designated E. coli O-groups. Public health and other laboratories are considering whole genome sequencing (WGS) to develop genotypic methods to determine O-groups. These procedures require instrumentation and analysis that may not be accessible and may be cost-prohibitive at this time. In this review, we have identified unique gene sequences within the O-antigen gene clusters and have targeted these genes for identification of O-groups using the polymerase chain reaction. This information may be potentially used to distinguish O-groups by developing other platforms for E. coli diagnostics in the future.