Escherichia coli O55:H7 str. RM12579 genome sequencing

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity in developing countries. In spite of this, only two EPEC genomes have been fully sequenced: the typical, model EPEC strain E2348/69 (O127:H6), and the contemporary, atypical EPEC strain CB9615 (O55:H7, Germany, 2003). This latter serotype has been established as a recent precursor to the virulent, enterohemorrhagic E. coli serotype O157:H7. We chose to sequence strain RM12579 (California, 1974) due to its proximity in time and space to the first O157:H7 isolated in the US, a California isolate from 1975.