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. 1995 May;33(5):1375–1377. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.5.1375-1377.1995

Identification of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli by PCR-based detection of the bundle-forming pilus gene.

S T Gunzburg 1, N G Tornieporth 1, L W Riley 1
PMCID: PMC228170  PMID: 7615759

Abstract

A rapid and simple method of detecting enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was developed. The procedure is based on amplifying by the PCR method a 326-bp region of the bundle-forming pilus gene of EPEC. The oligonucleotide DNA primers used in this procedure did not amplify DNA of any other bacterial enteropathogens tested. The procedure was 100% specific for EPEC strains that exhibit a characteristic pattern of attachment (localized adherence) to HeLa cells.

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Selected References

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