Confirmation that DNA encoding the major fimbrial subunit of Av24 fimbriae is homologous to DNA encoding the major fimbrial subunit of F107 fimbriae

Abstract

Plasmid DNA from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain Av24 (O 141:K85ab) was cloned into recipient E. coli strain JM105 using the plasmid vector pUC18. Clones were obtained that produced fimbriae which reacted with antisera specific to the fimbriae produced by strain Av24. Restriction mapping of cloned DNA, PCR with fedA primers and DNA sequencing showed a portion of the cloned DNA to be homologous to that encoding the major fimbrial subunit of F107 fimbriae. This confirms that the fimbriae possessed by strains of E. coli causing both edema disease and post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets are variants of the same fimbriae.