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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187323
Title: EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF SHIGA-LIKE TOXIN II EXPRESSION BETWEEN TWO DIVERSE LINEAGES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7

Author
item Dowd, Scot
item Williams, Jason

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2006
Publication Date: 3/28/2006
Citation: Dowd, S.E., Williams, J.B. 2006. Evaluation and comparison of shiga-like toxin II expression between two genetic lineages of Escherichia coli O157:H7 [abstract]. In: American Society for Microbiology 106th General Meeting, May 21-25, 2006, Orlando, Florida. 2006 CDROM. No. P-002.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The existence of two separate lineages of E. coli O157:H7 has previously been reported, and research points to one specific lineage (lineage I) possessing more potential for transmission to human hosts. Several different methods were selected to investigate the difference in STX2 expression between the two lineages. An initial STX2 specific ELISA was conducted, and lineage I demonstrated a significantly higher amount of STX2 protein (P=0.0003). Further analyses of STX2 were conducted on representatives from each lineage using a variety of approaches including PCR, quantitative PCR, microarray analysis, and plaque assay. Quantitative PCR analysis on STX2A subunit was also significantly higher in lineage I (P=0.02), which agreed with microarray results. Polymerase chain reaction revealed a possible explanation why decreased amounts of STX2 transcript and protein are found in lineage II. Although E. coli O157:H7 has many virulence factors and mechanisms to employ and evade host defenses, STX2 production has shown to be of high statistical relevance to the pathogenicity of lineage I, thus supporting the existence of two diverse lineages.