Commensal genomes for E. coli differ from typical E. coli, and these differences could have implications for reliable diagnosis and regulation of pathogenic E. coli in addition to the coliform cell-counting test, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Researchers studied genome sequences of nine environmentally adapted strains of E. coli phenotypically and taxonomically indistinguishable from typical E. coli. They found that commensal genomes for E. coli encode for more functions important for fitness in the human gut than typical E. coli and do not exchange genetic material with their environmental counterparts, and thus do not evolve according to the proposed fragmented speciation model.
The data support a more stringent and ecologic definition for bacterial species than the current definition, according to the authors. They suggest developing a new approach for defining distinctive phenotypes for new species.
Read the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America abstract.
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Researchers studied genome sequences of nine environmentally adapted strains of E. coli phenotypically and taxonomically indistinguishable from typical E. coli. They found that commensal genomes for E. coli encode for more functions important for fitness in the human gut than typical E. coli and do not exchange genetic material with their environmental counterparts, and thus do not evolve according to the proposed fragmented speciation model.
The data support a more stringent and ecologic definition for bacterial species than the current definition, according to the authors. They suggest developing a new approach for defining distinctive phenotypes for new species.
Read the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America abstract.
Read more coverage on GI issues:
- Study: Helicobacter Pylori Therapy Effective in Half of Children
- Study: Social Support May Influence Colectomy Decision
- Study: Weight-Loss Surgery Can Provide Migraine Relief