PROPERTIES OF VERO CYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI ISOLATED FROMHUMAN AND NONHUMAN SOURCES

Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) are an important caus e of disease in man and animals. In addition to the production of VT t hese strains may possess other properties that are required for full v irulence. Examples of some recent molecular studies are reviewed. Use of oligonucleotide probes and the polymerase chain reaction provide me thods for the identification and typing of different VT genes. Several VTEC have the ability to cause attaching and effacing lesions of the epithelial microvilli. Hybridization experiments with the eae probe (E . coli attaching and effacing) showed homology with VTEC of human orig in of eight different O serogroups. Properties of VTEC from human infe ctions have been compared to strains isolated from animals and foods.