RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7 and O157:H<sup>−</sup>Strains That Do Not Produce Shiga Toxin: Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Isolates Associated with Diarrhea and Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
JF Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JO J. Clin. Microbiol.
FD American Society for Microbiology
SP 3491
OP 3496
VO 37
IS 11
A1 Schmidt, H.
A1 Scheef, J.
A1 Huppertz, H. I.
A1 Frosch, M.
A1 Karch, H.
YR 1999
UL http://jcm.asm.org/content/37/11/3491.abstract
AB We have isolated one sorbitol-nonfermenting (SNF) Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolate and five sorbitol-fermenting (SF) E. coli O157:H− isolates that do not contain Shiga toxin (Stx) genes (stx). Isolates originated from patients with diarrhea (n = 4) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) (n = 2). All isolates harbored a chromosomaleae gene encoding gamma-intimin as well as the plasmid genes E-hly and etp. The E. coliO157:H7 isolate was katP and espP positive. Respective sera obtained from the patient with HUS contained antibodies to the O157 lipopolysaccharide antigen. Thestx-negative E. coli O157:H7 isolate is genetically related to stx-positive SNF E. coliO157:H7. All stx-negative SF E. coliO157:H− isolates belong to the same genetic cluster and are closely related to stx-positive SF E. coliO157:H− isolates. Our data indicate thatstx-negative E. coli O157:H7/H−variants may occur at a low frequency and cannot be recognized by diagnostic methods that target Stx.