Abstract
We have recently described a novel AB5 subtilase cytotoxin produced by certain Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. This potentially lethal toxin may contribute to severe gastrointestinal and systemic disease in humans. In this study we have developed a trivalent PCR assay for the detection of the novel toxin A subunit gene subA, as well as stx1 and stx2. The three primer pairs used in the assay do not interfere with each other and generate amplification products of 556, 180, and 255 bp, respectively. The assay can be used for determining the toxin genotype of STEC isolates, as well as for direct detection of toxin genes in primary fecal culture extracts.
Publication types
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Evaluation Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Cytotoxins / genetics
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Cytotoxins / metabolism
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DNA, Bacterial / analysis
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DNA, Bacterial / genetics
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Diarrhea / diagnosis*
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Diarrhea / microbiology
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Escherichia coli / classification
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Escherichia coli / genetics
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Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
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Escherichia coli / metabolism
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Escherichia coli Infections / diagnosis
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Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
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Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
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Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
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Feces / microbiology
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Humans
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
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Protein Subunits / genetics*
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Protein Subunits / metabolism
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Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
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Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
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Shiga Toxin 1 / genetics
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Shiga Toxin 1 / metabolism
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Shiga Toxin 2 / genetics
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Shiga Toxin 2 / metabolism
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Shiga Toxins / genetics*
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Shiga Toxins / metabolism
Substances
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Cytotoxins
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DNA, Bacterial
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Protein Subunits
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Shiga Toxin 1
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Shiga Toxin 2
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Shiga Toxins
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Serine Endopeptidases