Editorial: Emerging approaches for typing, detection, characterization, and traceback of Escherichia coli

Authors: Fratamico, Pina; DEBROY, CHITRITA - Pennsylvania State University; Needleman, David

Submitted to: Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2016
Publication Date: 11/27/2016
Citation: Fratamico, P.M., Debroy, C., Needleman, D.S. 2016. Editorial: Emerging approaches for typing, detection, characterization, and traceback of Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.02089.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Commensal E. coli inhabit the large intestines of humans and animals and are important in maintaining normal intestinal homeostasis. There are also many groups of disease-causing E. coli, including diarrheagenic and extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). There are approximately O188 somatic O-antigens, 74 capsular K-antigens, 53 flagellar H-antigens, and greater than 60 fimbrial F-antigens in E. coli identified based on antigens that produce an immune response in animals. However, E. coli are identified primarily based on their O- and H-antigens, defining the E. coli serotype. This research topic consists of articles based on the subject of an international workshop on “Emerging approaches for typing, detection and characterization of Escherichia coli” held at the Pennsylvania State University in 2015 that brought together well known scientists from throughout the world, working in the field to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas with regard to examining the current serotype classification and nomenclature for E. coli, emerging pathotypes, and new technologies and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for detection, characterization, and outbreak investigation. Scientists affiliated with public health laboratories, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and industry groups from the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Germany, and Japan, as well as industry groups working on technologies for characterization, detection, identification, and subtyping E. coli presented papers at the conference. This workshop provided a forum to discuss different concepts and practices for typing E. coli based on O- and H-antigens and for characterization of pathotypes, and to discuss progress made in the area of WGS as a tool for E. coli typing, subtyping, characterization, diagnostics, and outbreak investigation, and well as for providing insights on the evolution and emergence of highly pathogenic strains.