scholarly journals Structure and gene cluster of the O antigen of Escherichia coli L-19, a candidate for a new O-serogroup

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (9) ◽  
pp. 2102-2107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelina L. Zdorovenko ◽  
Lyudmila D. Varbanets ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Olga A. Valueva ◽  
Quan Wang ◽  
...  

Escherichia coli L-19 isolated from a healthy individual did not agglutinate with any of 21 polyvalent antisera that cover 174 E. coli O-serogroups. The strain was studied in respect to the O-antigen (O-specific polysaccharide, OPS) structure and genetics. The LPS was isolated by phenol–water extraction of bacterial cells and cleaved by mild acid hydrolysis to yield the OPS. The OPS was studied by sugar and methylation analyses, along with 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The established structure of the linear tetrasaccharide repeating unit was found to be unique among known bacterial polysaccharide structures. A peculiar component of the L-19 OPS was an amide of glucuronic acid with 2-amino-1,3-propanediol (2-amino-2-deoxyglycerol) (GroN). The O-antigen gene cluster of L-19 between the conserved genes galF and gnd was sequenced, and gene functions were tentatively assigned by a comparison with sequences in the available databases and found to be in agreement with the OPS structure. Except for putative genes for synthesis and transfer of GroN, the sequences in the L-19 O-antigen gene cluster were little related to those of reference strains of the 174 known E. coli O-serogroups. The data obtained suggest that L-19 can be considered as a candidate for a new E. coli O-serogroup.

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (10) ◽  
pp. 2620-2625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Sandy Huskic ◽  
Adam Cisterne ◽  
Deborah Rothemund ◽  
Peter R. Reeves

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli O55 is an important antigen which is often associated with enteropathogenic E. coli clones. We sequenced the genes responsible for its synthesis and identified genes for O-antigen polymerase, O-antigen flippase, four enzymes involved in GDP-colitose synthesis, and three glycosyltransferases, all by comparison with known genes. Upstream of the normal O-antigen region there is a gne gene, which encodes a UDP-GlcNAc epimerase for converting UDP-GlcNAc to UDP-GalNAc and is essential for O55 antigen synthesis. The O55 gne product has only 20 and 26% identity to the gne genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli O113, respectively. We also found evidence for the O55 gene cluster's having evolved from another gene cluster by gain and loss of genes. Only three of the GDP-colitose pathway genes are in the usual location, the other two being separated, although nearby. It is thought that the E. coli O157:H7 clone evolved from the O55:H7 clone in part by transfer of the O157 gene cluster into an O55 lineage. Comparison of genes flanking the O-antigen gene clusters of the O55:H7 and O157:H7 clones revealed one recombination site within the galF gene and located the other between the hisG and amn genes. Genes outside the recombination sites are 99.6 to 100% identical in the two clones, while most genes thought to have transferred with the O157 gene cluster are 95 to 98% identical.


Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 1642-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Liu ◽  
Andrei V. Perepelov ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Sof'ya N. Senchenkova ◽  
Yanfang Han ◽  
...  

O-antigen is a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and is one of the most variable cell surface constituents, leading to major antigenic variability. The O-antigen forms the basis for bacterial serotyping. In this study, the O-antigen structure of Salmonella O66 was established, which differs from the known O-antigen structure of Escherichia coli O166 only in one linkage (most likely the linkage between the O-units) and O-acetylation. The O-antigen gene clusters of Salmonella O66 and E. coli O166 were found to have similar organizations, the only exception being that in Salmonella O66, the wzy gene is replaced by a non-coding region. The function of the wzy gene in E. coli O166 was confirmed by the construction and analysis of deletion and trans-complementation mutants. It is proposed that a functional wzy gene located outside the O-antigen gene cluster is involved in Salmonella O66 O-antigen biosynthesis, as has been reported previously in Salmonella serogroups A, B and D1. The sequence identity for the corresponding genes between the O-antigen gene clusters of Salmonella O66 and E. coli O166 ranges from 64 to 70 %, indicating that they may originate from a common ancestor. It is likely that after the species divergence, Salmonella O66 got its specific O-antigen form by inactivation of the wzy gene located in the O-antigen gene cluster and acquisition of two new genes (a wzy gene and a prophage gene for O-acetyl modification) both residing outside the O-antigen gene cluster.


2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (23) ◽  
pp. 8528-8536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Plainvert ◽  
Philippe Bidet ◽  
Chantal Peigne ◽  
Valérie Barbe ◽  
Claudine Médigue ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A new highly pathogenic clone of Escherichia coli meningitis strains harboring the unusual serogroup O45 has recently emerged in France. To gain insight into the pathogenicity of this new clone, we investigated the possible role of antigen O45 in the virulence of strain S88 (O45:K1:H7), representative of this emerging clone. We first showed that the S88 O-antigen gene cluster sequence differs from that of O45 in the reference strain E. coli 96-3285, suggesting that the two O45 polysaccharides, while probably sharing a community of epitopes, represent two different antigens. The unique functional organization of the two O-antigen gene clusters and the low DNA sequence homology of the orthologous genes suggest that the two loci originated from a common ancestor and have since undergone multiple recombination events. Phylogenetic analysis based on the flanking gene gnd sequences indicates that the S88 antigen O45 (O45S88) gene cluster may have been acquired, at least in part, from another member of the Enterobacteriaceae. Mutagenesis of the O45S88 antigen gene cluster was used for functional analysis of the loci and revealed the crucial role of the O polysaccharide in S88 virulence in a neonatal rat meningitis model. We also developed a PCR method to specifically identify the O45S88 antigen gene cluster. Together, our findings suggest that horizontal acquisition of a new O-antigen gene cluster, at least partly from another species, may have been a key event in the emergence and virulence of the E. coli O45:K1:H7 clone in France.


2019 ◽  
Vol 480 ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Zheng ◽  
Olesya I. Naumenko ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
Yanwen Xiong ◽  
Jianping Wang ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slade O Jensen ◽  
Peter R Reeves

Escherichia coli O14:K7 is a rough strain, lacking a typical O antigen, in which the enterobacterial common antigen is attached to the lipopolysaccharide core. The rough phenotype was previously mapped to the O antigen gene cluster; however, the nature of the nonfunctional locus was not defined. In this study, we have shown that the O antigen gene cluster of an O14:K7 type strain (Su4411/41) was most likely deleted via homologous recombination between the GDP–mannose pathway genes (manB and manC) of the colanic acid and O antigen gene clusters. A similar recombination event has previously been inferred for the deletion of E. coli Sonnei chromosomal O antigen genes. Therefore, recombination between the GDP–mannose pathway genes provides a convenient mechanism for the deletion of O antigen genes, which may occur if the typical O antigen becomes redundant.Key words: colanic acid, enterobacterial common antigen, GDP–mannose pathway, O14:K7, O antigen.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 308-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pina M. Fratamico ◽  
Xianghe Yan ◽  
Yanhong Liu ◽  
Chitrita DebRoy ◽  
Brian Byrne ◽  
...  

The O-antigen gene clusters of Escherichia coli serogroups O2 and O28ac were sequenced, and PCR assays were developed to identify strains belonging to these 2 serogroups. Sixteen and 8 open reading frames were mapped to these loci in E. coli O2:H4 U 9-41 and E. coli O28ac:H25 96-3286, respectively. The wzx (O-antigen flippase) and wzy (O-antigen polymerase) genes in the E. coli O2 and O28ac O-antigen gene clusters were selected as targets for PCR assays for their identification. PCR assays targeting the wzx and wzy genes were specific for these serogroups, with one exception. Escherichia coli serogroup O42 strains gave positive results with wzx and wzy PCR assays targeting E. coli O28ac, and antiserum raised against O42 cross-reacted with serogroup O28ac strains. The O-antigen gene cluster of a strain of E. coli serogroup O42 was sequenced, and there were only 3 nt differences between the O-antigen gene clusters of the O28ac and O42 strains. Multiplex PCR assays targeting the O2 wzx gene, the stx1, stx2, hly, eae, and saa genes, and the O28ac wzx, ial, ipaC, and ipaH genes were developed for detecting Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O2 strains and enteroinvasive E. coli O28ac strains, respectively. The O2 and O28ac wzx and wzy genes can be used as diagnostic markers in PCR assays for rapid identification of these serogroups as an alternative to serotyping, and the multiplex PCR assays targeting serogroup-specific genes in combination with virulence genes can be used to identify and to detect pathogenic serogroup O2 and O28ac strains.


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 4919-4924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chitrita DebRoy ◽  
Pina M. Fratamico ◽  
Elisabeth Roberts ◽  
Michael A. Davis ◽  
Yanhong Liu

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli O45 O-antigen gene cluster of strain O45:H2 96-3285 was sequenced, and conventional (singleplex), multiplex, and real-time PCR assays were designed to amplify regions in the wzx (O-antigen flippase) and wzy (O-antigen polymerase) genes. In addition, PCR assays targeting the E. coli O55 wzx and wzy genes were designed based on previously published sequences. PCR assays targeting E. coli O45 showed 100% specificity for this serogroup, whereas by PCR assays specific for E. coli O55, 97/102 strains serotyped as E. coli O55 were positive for wzx and 98/102 for wzy. Multiplex PCR assays targeting the E. coli O45 and the E. coli O55 wzx and wzy genes were used to detect the organisms in fecal samples spiked at levels of 106 and 108 CFU/0.2 g feces. Thus, the PCR assays can be used to detect and identify E. coli serogroups O45 and O55.


2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 884-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford G. Clark ◽  
Andrew M. Kropinski ◽  
Haralambos Parolis ◽  
Christopher C. R. Grant ◽  
Keri M. Trout-Yakel ◽  
...  

The serotyping of O and H antigens is an important first step in the characterization of Salmonella enterica. However, serotyping has become increasingly technically demanding and expensive to perform. We have therefore sequenced additional S. enterica O antigen gene clusters to provide information for the development of DNA-based serotyping methods. Three S. enterica isolates had O antigen gene clusters with homology to the Escherichia coli O123 O antigen region. O antigen clusters from two serogroup O58 S. enterica strains had approximately 85 % identity with the E. coli O123 O antigen region over their entire length, suggesting that these Salmonella and E. coli O antigen regions evolved from a common ancestor. The O antigen cluster of a Salmonella serogroup O41 isolate had a lower level of identity with E. coli O123 over only part of its O antigen DNA cluster sequence, suggesting a different and more complex evolution of this gene cluster than those in the O58 strains. A large part of the Salmonella O41 O antigen DNA cluster had very close identity with the O antigen cluster of an O62 strain. This region of DNA homology included the wzx and wzy genes. Therefore, molecular serotyping tests using only the O41 or O62 wzx and wzy genes would not differentiate between the two serogroups. The E. coli O123 O-antigenic polysaccharide and its repeating unit were characterized, and the chemical structure for E. coli O123 was entirely consistent with the O antigen gene cluster sequences of E. coli O123 and the Salmonella O58 isolates. An understanding of both the genetic and structural composition of Salmonella and E. coli O antigens is necessary for the development of novel molecular methods for serotyping these organisms.


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