Genetic diversity in relation to serotype in Escherichia coli

The extent of chromosomal-gene diversity among 261 isolates of Escherichia coli sharing single O, K, or H antigens and various combinations thereof was estimated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, which detects allelic variation in structural genes. The results of this study indicate that the genetic diversity among isolates sharing single antigenic determinants can approach or equal that observed among randomly chosen strains; that the magnitude of the diversity varies among antigens; and that the genetic diversity is reduced, but not eliminated, among isolates sharing two antigenic determinants. With one exception, isolates of the same O:K:H serotype were of identical or closely related electrophoretic types (ETs). Isolates of the same ET generally shared the same combination of antigenic determinants, but some ETs included isolates of different serotypes. The implications of these findings for epidemiological research and the clone hypothesis of population structure are discussed, and possible evolutionary mechanisms causing antigenic divergence and convergence are considered.