Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography for identifying four categories of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Abstract:

Abstract: [Objective] We report a new molecular technique for the analysis of four categories of diarrheagenic Es-cherichia coli based on the separation of PCR-amplified target fragments by denaturing high-performance liquid chroma-tography (DHPLC). [Methods] Enteropathogenic E.coli, enterotoxigenic E.coli, enterohemorrhagic E.coli and enteroin-vasive E.coli were identified by analyzing four specific virulence genes. [Results] A total of 32 bacterial strains were tested, giving no false-positive or false negative results. The detection limits were as low as: ETEC 27 CFU/mL, EPEC 33 CFU/mL, EHEC 25 CFU/mL and EIEC 42 CFU/mL. [Conclusion] The data suggest that PCR-DHPLC will be useful for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli detection and identification.