Oligonucleotide probe for detection of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) adherence factor of localized adherent EPEC

Abstract

The enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adherence factor (EAF) probe detects isolates of enteropathogenic E. coli that exhibit localized adherence to HEp-2 cells. A 21-base oligonucleotide probe was constructed on the basis of a sequence from within the 1-kb EAF probe and was shown to have greater sensitivity and specificity than the EAF fragment probe in detecting localized adherent E. coli.