Escherichia coli O104:H4
Escherichia coli O104:H4 is a rare enterohemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli, and the cause of the 2011 Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak.[1] The "O" in the serological classification identifies the cell wall lipopolysaccharide antigen, and the "H" identifies the flagella antigen.
Genomic sequencing by BGI Shenzhen revealed that the bacteria belong to a "new super-toxic strain", a hybrid that has acquired some virulence abilities of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) strains by horizontal gene transfer.[2][3]
Prior to the 2011 outbreak, only one case identified as O104:H4 had been documented in literature, and this case involved a woman in Korea in 2005.[4] A presumably related strain, O104:H21, caused an outbreak of hemorrhagic colitis in Montana in 1994.[5]
References
- ^ EHEC O104:H4, causing a severe outbreak in Germany (May 2011)
- ^ "BGI Sequences Genome of the Deadly E. Coli in Germany and Reveals New Super-Toxic Strain". BGI. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- ^ David Tribe (2011-06-02). "BGI Sequencing news: German EHEC strain is a chimera created by horizontal gene transfer". Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- ^ Bae WK, Lee YK, Cho MS, Ma SK, Kim SW, Kim NH, et al.. A case of haemolytic uremic syndrome caused by Escherichia coli O104:H4. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2006 Jun 30;47(3):473–9. doi:10.3349/ymj.2006.47.3.437. PMID 16807997.
- ^ Center for Disease Control (USA). (1995). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 44(27):501–3
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