Development and Evaluation of Oligonucleotide DNA Probes for Detection and Genotyping of Shiga-like Toxin Producing Escherichia coli.

Use of antisense oligonucleotide probes (OP) for detection and genotyping of Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC) was evaluated. Based on published deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences of the A subunits of Shiga-like toxin (SLT) I and II genes, three synthetic antisense OP were constructed (OP-1, -2 and -3). Their use for detection and genotyping of SLTEC was evaluated and the results were compared to those obtained using cloned toxin-gene probe fragments.