Pathogenicity islands are chromosomal clusters of horizontally acquired virulence genes that are often found at tRNA loci. The selC tRNA locus of Escherichia coli has served as the site of integration of two distinct pathogenicity islands which are responsible for converting benign strains into uro- and enteropathogens. Because virulence genes are targeted to the selC locus of E.coli, we invest...

Pathogenicity islands are chromosomal clusters of pathogen-specific virulence genes often found at tRNA loci. We have determined the molecular genetic structure of SPI-3, a 17-kb pathogenicity island located at the selC tRNA locus of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The G+C content of SPI-3 (47.5%) differs from that of the Salmonella genome (52%), consistent with the notion that these s...

The consumption of squab (young unfledged pigeons) as part of the cuisine of many countries, together with the observation that squabs are vectors of zoonotic agents, may make them a public health risk. This study was designed to determine the serotypes, distribution of 11 virulence genes (invA, avrA, ssaQ, mgtC, siiD, sopB, gipA, sodC1, sopE1, spvC, bcfC) and the antimicrobial resistance profi...