The reduction in EPS production in btkB mutant may cause a delay in the formation of fruiting bodies and spores. Different chemotaxis proteins and type IV pili of M. xanthus are required for EPS production (Yang et al., 2000; Bellenger et al., 2002). These data suggested that BtkB is not essential for, but plays a partial role in, the production of EPS. In this study, we showed the possibility that BtkB has multiple roles in M. xanthus cells. To understand the function of BtkB in M. xanthus, further work is needed to determine the substrates of BtkB in vivo. This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education,

Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (22570187). “
“A published multiple-locus variable number of tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA) scheme was compared selleck chemicals llc with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for genotyping of 62 Escherichia coli O26 strains from humans, Sotrastaurin solubility dmso animals and food. The strains were isolated between 1947 and 2006 in eight countries on three continents and divided into 23 enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), 33 enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), one enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and five avirulent strains. ETEC and avirulent E. coli serotyped as O26:H32. EHEC and EPEC O26 strains shared flagellar type H11 and the eae-β gene, and divided into

two clonal lineages by their arcA gene sequence and fermentation of rhamnose and dulcitol. The rhamnose/dulcitol-nonfermenting (RDF−), ‘arcA allele 1’ type comprised 22 EHEC and 15 EPEC strains. The rhamnose/dulcitol-fermenting (RDF+), ‘arcA allele 2’ type encompassed 17 EPEC and one EHEC strain. PFGE typing of the 62 O26 strains revealed 54 distinct patterns, whereas 29 profiles were obtained by MLVA. Like PFGE, MLVA divided

Proteases inhibitor RDF− and RDF+ O26:[H11] strains into two distinct clusters of related strains. The O26:H32 strains formed a separate PFGE cluster and two clusters by MLVA. MLVA was found as suitable, but more rapid and easier to standardize than PFGE for identifying genetically related E. coli O26 strains. Escherichia coli strains of serogroup O26 became known as agents of diarrhoea in young infants and calves as early as in 1951 (Orskov, 1951). According to their virulence genes, E. coli O26:H11 strains and their nonmotile (NM) derivatives were assigned to the group of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), which cause gastroenteritis in infants worldwide (Trabulsi et al., 2002). Certain E. coli O26:H11/NM strains produce Shiga (Vero) toxins (Stx) and may cause diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome in humans (Jenkins et al., 2008). Because of their association with haemorrhagic diseases, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26:H11/NM strains were assigned to the group of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), together with EHEC O157, O103, O111 and O145 strains (Nataro & Kaper, 1998).