Comparison of O-Antigen Gene Clusters of <i>Escherichia coli</i> ( <i>Shigella</i> ) Sonnei and <i>Plesiomonas shigelloides</i> O17: Sonnei Gained Its Current Plasmid-Borne O-Antigen Genes from <i>P. shigelloides</i> in a Recent Event

Abstract

Escherichia coli Sonnei has an O antigen identical to that of Plesiomonas shigelloides O17, and its O-antigen gene cluster is located on a plasmid. By sequencing the chromosomal O-antigen gene cluster of P. shigelloides O17 and comparing it with that of Sonnei, we showed that Sonnei gained its O-antigen genes recently.