Loss of stx from Escherichia coli and Escherichia albertii. STX-LST

The dynamics related to the loss of stx genes from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli remain unclear. Current diagnostic procedures have shortcomings in the detection and identification of STEC. This is partly owing to the fact that stx genes may be lost during an infection or in the laboratory. The present study presents insight into E. coli and E. albertii genomes before and after stx loss. Whole genome comparison of stx-positive and stx-negative isolates from the same patient, revealed that different genomic rearrangements, such as complete or partial loss of the parent prophage, may be factors in the loss of stx.