Jorg Rothganger

Publications of Jorg Rothganger

• Phylogenetic analysis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, Germany, 1987-2008.

  Authors: Christian Jenke, Dag Harmsen, Thomas Weniger, Jorg Rothganger, Eija Hyytia-Trees, Martina Bielaszewska, Helge Karch, Alexander Mellmann

  Emerging infectious diseases. 04/2010; 16(4):610-6.

  Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) is a subtyping technique for characterizing human pathogenic bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157. We determinedMultilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) is a subtyping technique for characterizing human pathogenic bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157. We determined the phylogeny of 202 epidemiologically unrelated EHEC O157:H7/H- clinical isolates through 8 MLVA loci obtained in Germany during 1987-2008. Biodiversity in the loci ranged from 0.66 to 0.90. Four of 8 loci showed null alleles and a frequency < or =44.1%. These loci were distributed among 48.5% of all strains. Overall, 141 MLVA profiles were identified. Phylogenetic analysis assigned 67.3% of the strains to 19 MLVA clusters. Specific MLVA profiles with an evolutionary persistence were identified, particularly within sorbitol-fermenting EHEC O157:H-.These pathogens belonged to the same MLVA cluster. Our findings indicate successful persistence of this clone.