Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is a principally foodborne pathogen linked to serious diseases, including bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that EHEC O157 contains 177 unique genomic islands, termed O islands, compared with the nonpathogenic E. coli K-12 laboratory strain. These O islands contribute largely to the pathogenicity of EHEC O157:H7 by providing numerous virulence factors, effectors, virulence regulatory proteins, and virulence regulatory sRNAs. The present review aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research progress on the function of O islands, especially focusing on virulence-related O islands.
肠出血性大肠杆菌(EHEC)O157:H7是一种主要通过食物传播的病原体,与严重疾病相关,包括血性腹泻、出血性结肠炎和溶血性尿毒综合征。比较基因组学分析显示,与非致病性大肠杆菌K - 12实验室菌株相比,EHEC O157包含177个独特的基因岛,称为O岛。这些O岛通过提供众多毒力因子、效应子、毒力调节蛋白和毒力调节小RNA,在很大程度上促进了EHEC O157:H7的致病性。本综述旨在全面了解O岛功能的研究进展,尤其侧重于与毒力相关的O岛。