Chinese scientists sequence E. coli genome
It took three days for the Beijing Genomics Institute to sequence the
genome of the recently discovered new strain of E. coli bacteria,
opening the door to a possible vaccine.
"The decoding of the genome of the rampant E. coli pathogen is an
important step towards being able to effectively treat patients with
the new potentially fatal strain," said Andreas Hensel, head of
Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
Chinese scientists at the Beijing Genomics Institute, the world's
largest DNA sequencing center, announced that the E. coli spreading
through Europe was "a new strain of bacteria that is highly infectious
and toxic."
German scientists had been scrambling to unlock the E. coli bacteria
at the heart of the recent outbreak which originated in Germany and has
since spread to 12 other countries, with the death toll at 19.
The Chinese researchers, who obtained DNA samples of the bacteria
from collaborating scientists in Germany, managed to fully sequence its
genome in three days - becoming the first in the world to do so and
lodge its full sequence on the Internet.
A senior German doctor said on Friday that the number of new
infections had decreased compared to previous days, but added that the
outbreak was the most severe in decades. Nearly 2000 people have been
infected in Germany alone, and the virus has been detected as far away
as the United States.
BGI made headlines in 2009 for its laboratory testing of the H1N1
virus, also known as avian influenza, or bird flu. The institute also
conducts research in agriculture and veterinary sciences. It mapped the
genome of the endangered giant panda three years ago.
BGI, which already owns a lab in the United States, is to open its
European headquarters this year in the Danish capital Copenhagen with a
funding allotment of around two million euros ($2.9 million).
Author: Hao Gui / dfm
Editor: Toma Tasovac
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15130446,00.html
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