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Welcome to the Pritzker | Ruohonen Food Safety Blog
New Technique to Test DNA of E. coli Bacteria
Michigan State University has developed a new technique to test the DNA of E. coli bacteria by examining very small genetic changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs (pronounced snips). Using SNPs, scientists analyzed 96 markers, making genetic analysis of pathogenic bacteria possible at a rate never before accomplished.
“It used to take three months to score one gene individually,” said Thomas Whittam, Hannah Distinguished Professor at the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at MSU. “Now, we are working on a new, more rapid system that can do thousands of genes per day.”
In a new study released in the Monday edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “Variation in Virulence Among Clades of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Associated With Disease Outbreaks,” Whittam and his co-authors looked at the DNA of more than 500 strains of a particularly dangerous member of the E. coli family, O157:H7. In collaboration with David Alland of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Whittam discovered that individual bacteria could be separated into nine major groups, called clades.
E coli makes people sick because they produce toxins, called Shiga toxins. These toxins block protein synthesis, an essential cellular function, particularly in the kidneys. What Whittam found was that the different clades produced different kinds of Shiga toxins in varying amounts based on their DNA.
“For the first time, we know why some outbreaks cause serious infections and diseases and others don’t,” Whittam said. “The different E. coli groups produce different toxins.”
Rapid genetic characterization also opens up a new world of possibilities for identifying the bacterial culprits in outbreaks and finding out where they originated.
“This is the first time anyone has been able to classify very closely related groups,” Whittam said. “This is also the first time we can tell the differences in how they cause disease.”
Whittam also has plans to use this methodology to study other bacterial strains, like Shigella, a major cause of diarrhea around the world. “This new equipment can be used to identify hundreds of thousands of pathogenic bacteria,” Whittam said.
Source: Michigan State University press release.
Posted March 2008.
“It used to take three months to score one gene individually,” said Thomas Whittam, Hannah Distinguished Professor at the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at MSU. “Now, we are working on a new, more rapid system that can do thousands of genes per day.”
In a new study released in the Monday edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “Variation in Virulence Among Clades of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Associated With Disease Outbreaks,” Whittam and his co-authors looked at the DNA of more than 500 strains of a particularly dangerous member of the E. coli family, O157:H7. In collaboration with David Alland of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Whittam discovered that individual bacteria could be separated into nine major groups, called clades.
E coli makes people sick because they produce toxins, called Shiga toxins. These toxins block protein synthesis, an essential cellular function, particularly in the kidneys. What Whittam found was that the different clades produced different kinds of Shiga toxins in varying amounts based on their DNA.
“For the first time, we know why some outbreaks cause serious infections and diseases and others don’t,” Whittam said. “The different E. coli groups produce different toxins.”
Rapid genetic characterization also opens up a new world of possibilities for identifying the bacterial culprits in outbreaks and finding out where they originated.
“This is the first time anyone has been able to classify very closely related groups,” Whittam said. “This is also the first time we can tell the differences in how they cause disease.”
Whittam also has plans to use this methodology to study other bacterial strains, like Shigella, a major cause of diarrhea around the world. “This new equipment can be used to identify hundreds of thousands of pathogenic bacteria,” Whittam said.
Source: Michigan State University press release.
Posted March 2008.
Labels: E. coli DNA, E. coli research
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Foodborne Outbreaks
- University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) E. coli: At least 8 people have been sickened, 7 of them students.
- Michigan E. coli Lettuce: A Michigan E. coli outbreak has been associated with bagged iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid's Produce Company.
- Aunt Mid's Lawsuit: People in Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oregon have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak.
- University of Michigan and MSU E. coli Lawsuit: 7 students at Michigan State University and 3 students at the University of Michigan have contracted E. coli infections.
- Hendricks Farm Campylobacter outbreak associated with Hendricks Farm & Dairy in Telford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
- Oklahoma E. coli: An Oklahoma E. coli outbreak may be linked to a Locust Grove restaurant.
- Nebraska Beef Lawsuit: Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled millions of pounds of beef products and has been linked to 2 outbreaks.
- Massachusettes E. coli: A Massachusettes E. coli outbreak has been linked to Nebraska Beef products and Coleman Meat products.
- Whole Foods Market Lawsuit: The Whole Foods Market E. coli outbreak is part of the Massachusettes E. coli outbreak above.
- Virginia E. coli - Goshen Scout Reservation: Dozens of scouts were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to beef.
- Georgia E. coli - Barbecue Pit Lawsuit
- Ohio E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
- Michigan E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
- Multi-State Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak: Tomatoes have sickened hundreds of people throughout the United States.
- Minnesota Preschool E. coli: Outbreak associated with Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, Minnesota.
- Washington E. coli Lettuce: Outbreak associated with commercial romaine lettuce.
- Texas Salmonella Saintpaul - Tomato: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
- New Mexico Salmonella Saintpaul Linked to Tomatoes: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
- Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
- Hepatitis A - La Mesa California Chipotle - Lawyer and Lawsuit: San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak
- Salmonella - Puffed Rice Recall and Puffed Wheat Recall: Malt-O-Meal cereal recall.
- Minnesota Salmonella - Milford Valley Farms Lawsuit: Frozen chicken product.
- Salmonella - Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe Recall: Cantaloupe from Honduras.
- Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Lawsuit: Recall of Dole, Chiquita and other brands.
- Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
- Alabama E. coli - Church Supper: Outbreak associated with Eastern Shore Baptis Church.
- E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
- E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
- E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
- E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
- Listeria - Whittier Farms Recall and Lawsuit: Miscarriage and death linked to milk.
- Hawaii Salmonella - Tuna Recall and Lawsuit
- Salmonella - Safeway Ground Beef Recall and Lawsuit