Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major food-borne infectious pathogen that causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Here we report the complete chromosome sequence of an O157:H7 strain isolated from the Sakai outbreak, and the results of genomic comparison with a benign laboratory strain, K-12 MG1655. The chromosome is 5.5 Mb in size, 859 Kb larger than that of K-12. We...

Escherichia coli O157: H7 strain was used as the standard for bacteriophages isolated from polluted environmental foci and animal waste-contaminated waters, some of enteroinvasive strains previously sporadic cases were to determine host diversity phages. The physiological properties specific O157:H7, designated Escherichiaphage NL1, studied. After isolation step, purified their titer increased....

Agricultural fairs exhibiting livestock are increasingly implicated in human Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) outbreaks. To estimate livestock STEC O157:H7 prevalence at US fairs, we collected 2,919 fecal specimens at 29 county fairs in 2 states and at 3 state fairs in 2002. Fly pools were also collected. STEC O157:H7 was isolated from livestock at 31 (96.9%) of 32 fairs,...

Escherichia coli O157, an etiological agent of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, is one of the leading worldwide public health threats. Genome sequencing of two O157 strains have revealed that the chromosome is comprised of a 4.1 Mb backbone shared by K-12 and a total of 1.4 Mb O157-specific sequences. Most of the large O157-specific sequences are prophages and prophage-like el...

During a 2.5-year survey of 33 farms and ranches in a major leafy greens production region in California, 13,650 produce, soil, livestock, wildlife, and water samples were tested for Shiga toxin (stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Overall, 357 and 1,912 samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 (2.6%) or non-O157 STEC (14.0%), respectively. Isolates differentiated by O-typing ELISA and mul...

Escherichia coli is one of the most important bacteria associated with consumption meat products causing human disease, bovines as main reservoir for this organism. Microbiological quality raw sampled at slaughterhouses was evaluated by measuring presence serogroups that produce Shiga toxin (referred to STEC), including both O157:H7 and non-O157 strains can cause Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)...

AIM To investigate the effect of curli expression on cell hydrophobicity, biofilm formation and attachment to cut and intact fresh produce surfaces. METHODS AND RESULTS Five Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains were evaluated for curli expression, hydrophobicity, biofilm formation and attachment to intact and cut fresh produce (cabbage, iceberg lettuce and Romaine lettuce) leaves. Biofilm formati...