Transcriptomic analysis of Caco-2 cells following exposure to VTEC isolates derived from diverse origins

This project has two goals. Firstly, to compare the gene expression profiles of Caco cells following exposure to Verocytotoxigenic E. coli0157:H7 (VTEC) isolates from food animals (bovine, ovine, porcine) and human in an effort to assess the invasive and toxigenic potential of isolates of different origin. All sources contain the common virulence and type 3 secretory system genes. Secondly, to compare the gene expression profiles of Caco-2 cells following exposure to VTEC isolates that contain (positive) or do not contain (negative) the genes of the type 3 secretory system (TTSS). Eight groups (TTSS positive), four replicates (32 arrays in total):1. Control x 4, 2. Human x 4, 3. Ovine x 4, 4. Bovine x 4, 5. Porcine x 4, 6. International Reference x 4, 7. TTSS_NEG_Human x 4, 8.TTSS_NEG_Ovine x 4