Escherichia coli pathotypes (qPCR)

Description

The Escherichia coli pathotypes (qPCR) product is used to determine sequences specific to Escherichia coli pathotypes: ETEC, EPEC, EIEC, EAEC, and EHEC/STEC in DNA preparations obtained from cultures on a growth medium.

Product characteristics

Kit size: 100 assays

Reaction_1: triplex (FAM: marker estA, HEX: internal control (marker uidA), Texas Red: marker eltB)

Reaction_2: triplex (FAM: marker aggR, HEX: internal control(marker uidA), Texas Red: marker ipaH)

Reaction_3: triplex (FAM: marker eae, HEX: internal control (marker uidA), Texas Red: marker bfpA)

Reaction_4: duplex fourplex (FAM: marker stx1, HEX: internal control (marker uidA), Texas Red: marker stx2, Cy5: marker rfbE_O157)

Internal control: exogenous/endogenous

Determination: qualitative/quantitative

Kit components:

• Reaction mixture: contains DNA polymerase, probes and primers, and other qPCR reaction components;
• Positive control;
• Negative control;
• PCR-grade water

Description of Escherichia coli pathotypes

Escherichia coli (coliform bacteria) is a relatively anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is a symbiont that forms part of the intestinal microbiome of warm-blooded animals, including humans. In the intestine, E. coli plays a beneficial role by participating in the breakdown of food. It also contributes to the production of B and K vitamins. Under certain conditions, Escherichia coli is pathogenic to humans and animals, causing mainly diseases of the digestive and urinary systems.

Strains that cause diarrhea pose a particularly serious threat to humans and animals. There are six pathotypes of E. coli that cause diarrhea (DEC – Diarrheagenic E. coli):

• ETEC (enterotoxigenic strain)
• EPEC (enteropathogenic strain)
• EIEC (enteroinvasive strain)
• EAEC/EAggEC (enteroaggregative strain)
• EHEC, VTEC(enterohaemorrhagic strain, verotoxic strain)
• STEC (Shiga toxin-producing strain)

Escherichia coli is the most commonly identified foodborne pathogen causing diarrhea in children. Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The main burden of this disease occurs in children in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. In animals, it is also assumed that about half of the deaths of young animals are caused by colibacillosis.

Identifying the pathotypes of E. coli that cause diarrhea is complex because pathogenic variants cannot be separated from commensal E. coli solely on the basis of microbiological culture. Molecular-level analyses are necessary for this purpose.