Comparison of O-Antigen Gene Clusters of Escherichia coli (Shigella) Sonnei and Plesiomonas shigelloides O17: Sonnei Gained Its Current Plasmid-Borne O-Antigen Genes from P. shigelloides in a Recent Event

Escherichia coli Sonnei has an O antigen identical to that of Plesiomonas shigelloides O17, and its O-antigen gene cluster is located on a plasmid. By sequencing the chromosomal O-antigen gene cluster of P. shigelloides O17 and comparing it with that of Sonnei, we showed that Sonnei gained its O-antigen genes recently.