DNA sequencing technology yields new insights into German E.
coli pathogenJuly 28th, 2011 in Genetics An international team
of scientists has successfully employed single molecule, real-
time (SMRT) DNA sequencing technology from Pacific Biosciences
of California, Inc. (NASDAQ: PACB) to provide valuable insights
into the pathogenicity and evolutionary origins of the highly
virulent bacterium responsible for the German E. coli outbreak.
Published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine,
the results provide the most detailed genetic profile to date of
the outbreak strain, including medically relevant information.
The researchers determined the outbreak strain was a member of
the enteroaggregative pathotype of E. coli (EAEC) with serotype
O104:H4. The outbreak isolates are distinguished from other
O104:H4 strains because they contain genes encoding Shiga toxin
2 (Stx2) and a distinct set of additional virulence and
antibiotic resistance factors. In addition, the team found that
expression of the stx2