Molecular characterization of extraintestinal pathogenicEscherichia coli(ExPEC) pathogenicity islands in F165-positiveE. colistrain from a diseased animal

Septicemic Escherichia coli 4787 (O115: K-: H51: F165) of porcine origin possess gene clusters related to extraintestinal E. coli fimbrial adhesins. This strain produces two fimbriae: F1651 and F1652. F1651 (Prs-like) belongs to the P fimbrial family, encoded by foo operon and F1652 is a F1C-like encoded by fot operon. Data from this study suggest that these two operons are part of two PAIs. PAI I4787 includes a region of 20 kb, which not only harbors the foo operon but also contains a potential P4 integrase gene and is located within the pheU tRNA gene, at 94 min of the E. coli chromosome. PAI II4787 includes a region of over 35 kb, which harbors the fot operon, iroBCDEN gene clusters, as well as part of microcin M genes and nonfunctional mobility genes. PAI II4787 is found between the proA and yagU at 6 min of the E. coli chromosome.