| abstract |
The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the hlyA gene, the hlyB gene and the intergenic region between the hlyA gene and the hlyB gene which are present in enterohemorrhagic E. coli. In addition, the present invention provides methods for detecting enterohemorrhagic E. coli by targeting the hlyA gene, the hlyB gene, the intergenic region between the hlyA and the hlyB genes, combinations thereof, or fragments thereof. Such methods rely on nucleic acid probes and amplification primers specific for subsequences of the hlyA gene, the hlyB gene, the intergenic region between the hlyA and the hlyB genes, combination thereof or, fragments thereof. As such, the present provides nucleic acid probes and amplification primers which can be used for the rapid, sensitive and specific amplification and detection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. In addition, the present invention provides kits embracing the above aspects. |