Molecular characterization of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) pathogenicity islands in F165-positive E. coli strain 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: F165 1 and F165 2. F165 1 (Prs-like) belongs to the P fimbrial family, encoded by foo operon and F165 2 is a F1C-like encoded by fot operon. Data from this study suggest that these two operons are part of two PAIs. PAI I 4787 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 II 4787 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 II 4787 is found between the proA and yagU at 6 min of the E. coli chromosome.