Escherichia coli: Great Diversity around a Common Core

Abstract

Escherichia coli outbreak in Germany, which resulted in more than 4,000 cases, including 908 cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and at least 50 deaths, highlighted the genome plasticity of E. coli and the potential for new virulent strains to emerge. The analysis of 170 E. coli genome sequences for the presence of nine previously identified protective extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli antigens suggested the feasibility of a combination vaccine as a universal intervention against all pathogenic E. coli strains. IMPORTANCE: This article reports on the feasibility of a combination vaccine as a universal intervention against all pathogenic Escherichia coli strains.