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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #317422
Title: Overview of the international workshop on emerging approaches for typing, detection, and characterization of Escherichia coli

Author
item Fratamico, Pina
item DEBROY, CHITRITA - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Determination of the O:H antigens in E. coli has been the gold standard for ascertaining the serotype of E. coli strains and identifying pathogenic clones. However, conventional serotyping is laborious, time-consuming, often gives equivocal results, and there are technical difficulties with antiserum production and quality control. The DNA sequence of the O-antigen gene clusters that carry the genes involved in the synthesis of the E. coli O-antigens has been determined for all of the E. coli O-group reference strains, allowing genoserotyping of E. coli O-groups. Genes that can identify the E. coli H-types are also known. The 1st International Workshop on Emerging Approaches for Typing, Detection, and Characterization of Escherichia coli, held at The Pennsylvania State University in March, 2015, provided a forum for scientists from academia, government, and industry worldwide to exchange information on ambiguities identified in the E. coli serotype nomenclature, the evolution of different E. coli pathogroups, and emerging methods for detection, typing, surveillance, and epidemiological investigations. Several presentations focused on detection, characterization, and typing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and regulatory issues with determining the health risk of different STEC strains. There were also presentations on extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), focusing on currently used typing methods for resolving virulent clonal lineages, which will likely be replaced by whole genome sequencing (WGS), food as a vehicle for transmission of these pathogens, and the public health and economic burden of ExPEC infections. Industry groups presented different molecular platforms that could be employed for genoserotyping, detection, and pathotyping of E. coli. In addition, there were presentations on the advantages of WGS of E. coli for typing/subtyping, surveillance, outbreak investigation, and regulatory purposes. There are plans to have as second workshop to continue the discussions and collaborations, and all members of the E. coli research community are welcome to participate.