TGAC is contributing to the ‘Crowd-sourcing’ analysis of the genome analysis involving an unprecedented level of scientific cooperation across the globe on the internet to uncover the secrets of this E.coli genome and find out what is making it so dangerous to health.

Many antibiotic resistance genes have been found in this draft sequence, as well as at least part of a gene known to be involved in attachment and uptake into human cells.  There are several other genetic factors that, taken together, are likely to contribute to this organism’s serious impact on human health.  Several of these implicated genes are found in key areas of the genome which may have been gained from other E.coli strains.

Genes for outer cell structures have been found, known as pili, that are involved in attachment to surfaces, and could potentially be involved in attachment to vegetable skins or plastic packaging.  This bacterium also has a number of genes associated with survival under stress conditions, that could improve its tolerance of adverse conditions such as acid, heavy metals such as copper, low iron, low oxygen and UV light.

Dr. Lisa Crossman, TGAC Microbial Genomes Project Leader said “By studying the genetic factors involved in the survival of this bacterium on surfaces we hope to get an angle on how this organism has been able to get a foothold in the global food chain.”

So far the ‘crowd-sourcing’ analysis has identified that the closest related E.coli strain is one which was isolated several years ago in the Central African Republic and linked with serious diarrhoea.  However, the new outbreak strain is believed to have gained genes from a different E.coli not previously involved with food poisoning, which now allows the outbreak strain to induce the life-threatening haemorrhagic uraemia symptoms.

Latest information on the outbreak from the World Health Organisation