Conservation of E2348/69 genes in the eight sequenced E. coli strains. The numbers of E2348/69 genes conserved in each of the eight sequenced E. coli strains are indicated. Of the 4,492 genes (or multicopy gene families) identified in E2348/69, 3,141 (indicated by gray) were conserved in all the E. coli strains. Other genes were classified into three groups according to their locations in the E2348/69 genome (in plasmids, in PPs and IEs, and in other chromosome regions).