# 5594
It is being widely reported this morning by the International press that Chinese scientists at the Beijing Genomics Institute, after completing the sequencing the genome of the E. Coli bacterium responsible for the massive outbreak of food poisoning in Germany, have pronounced it to be a `new strain’.
E.coli outbreak in Europe caused by new toxic strain - Reuters
WHO says E.coli strain never seen before – SwissInfo.Ch
E coli outbreak: WHO says bacterium is a new strain – The Guardian
Excerpts from the press release from the Beijing Genomics Institute follows:
BGI Sequences Genome of the Deadly E. Coli in Germany and Reveals New Super-Toxic Strain
2011-06-02 15:28:36
Sequence analysis indicated this bacterium is an EHEC serotype O104 E. coli strain; however, this is a new serotype — not previously involved in any E. coli outbreaks.
Comparative analysis showed that this bacterium has 93% sequence similarity with the EAEC 55989 E. coli strain, which was isolated in the Central African Republic and known to cause serious diarrhea. This new strain of E. coli, however, has also acquired specific sequences that appear to be similar to those involved in the pathogenicity of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
The acquisition of these genes may have occurred through horizontal gene transfer. The analysis further showed that this deadly bacterium carries several antibiotic resistance genes, including resistance to aminoglycoside, macrolides and Beta-lactam antibiotics: all of which makes antibiotic treatment extremely difficult.
According to a number of press reports this morning, Hilde Kruse, a food safety expert at the World Health Organization has confirmed with The Associated Press that "this is a unique strain that has never been isolated from patients before", and that - the new strain has "various characteristics that make it more virulent and toxin-producing.”
The source of this contamination, and how (and where) this new strain may have evolved, remains a mystery.
