Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes to detect verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in diseased pigs |
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Authors: | Thomas Meyer Martin Bitzan Oliver Sandkamp Helge Karch |
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Affiliation: | Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universit?tskrankenhauses Eppendorf, Hamburg, F.R.G. |
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Abstract: | Oligonucleotide probes constructed from the sequences published for Shiga-like toxin I (SLT-I) and Shiga-like toxin II (SLT-II) genes and antibody against the purified toxins were used to study the SLT (SLT-IIp) produced by porcine E. coli O138 and O139 strains. By DNA hybridization assays no homology was observed between SLT-I and SLT-IIp. By contrast the oligonucleotide probe derived from the slt-II A gene detected porcine strains of E. coli producing SLT-IIp and E. coli strains associated with human disease producing SLT-II. Homology of nucleotide sequences between SLT-IIp and SLT-II is reflected by serological cross-reactivity as demonstrated by a dot blot ELISA and neutralization of SLT-IIp with anti-SLT-II. The toxins were distinguishable in their ability to kill HeLa S-3 cells. The oligonucleotide probe and anti-SLT-II can facilitate identification of SLT-IIp producing E. coli to further clarify their role in diseased pigs. |
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Keywords: | Edema disease Shiga-like toxin DNA hybridization Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli |
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