Identification of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase gene from enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

We describe here the identification of sodC gene from enteroaggregative Esc herichia coli (EAggEC), A 294 bp gene-specific fragment was amplified from the organism by DNA as well as RT-PCR using primers from bacterial sodC seq uences. The metal co-factor present in the protein was confirmed by running samples in native gels and inhibiting with 2 mM potassium cyanide. However , the nonpathogenic E. coli possesses the gene but does not express it. Thu s, the presence of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase encoded by sodC was dem onstrated for the first time in EAggEC, which means it could be a novel can didate for a virulence marker.