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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #79722
Title: ENTEROHEMORRHAGIC ESCHERICHIA COLI SHARE A COMMON SURFACE EPITOPE

Author
item Laegreid, William
item WESTERMAN, RALPH - FORMER MARC EMPLOYEE
item Elder, Robert
item Keen, James
item Kwang, Hwei Sing
item WILSON, RICHARD - PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have been defined based on the presence of genes for Shiga-like toxins, intimin and enterohemolysin, along with association with specific disease syndromes. However, these genes may be present in non-EHEC E. coli, complicating interpretation of diagnostic and screening results. By screening a panel of monoclonal antibodies generated against E. coli O157:H7, we have identified an antibody which reacts with 88% of EHEC isolates tested including 12/12 O157:H7/NM, 5/5 O111:H8/NM and 5/5 O26:H2/H11/NM. Low level expression of the determinant detected by this antibody was detected in some enteropathogenic and enteroaggregative isolates, notably O55:H7, the putative ancestor of O157:H7. The antibody provides an additional marker for EHEC which may be simply applied in a variety of immunologic assay formats. The nature and genetic basis for the epitope detected by this antibody are under investigation.