MI013-07 High-throughput SNP analysis of food and waterborne pathgens

E. coli  O157:H7 has caused large outbreaks of food and water borne disease and contributes to thousands of sporadic cases of illness each year in the U.S.  Analysis of 94 single nucleotide E. coli polymorphisms (SNPs) in clinical isolates of O157:H7 from Michigan resolved the strains into distinct SNP genotypes, which could be organized into 9 groups or clades.  There were significant differences between clades with regard to the frequency of HUS and disease severity, suggesting that some clades differ in transmission and virulence. The aim of this project is to extend the investigation of O157 clades and virulence by purchasing a high-throughput instrument specifically designed for rapid TM SNP analysis (Beckman Coulter’s GenomeLab SNPstream Genotyping System), and by using the STEC Center (MI002-03) to assemble an extensive and diverse collection of O157 strains for evaluation.