Use of an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated oligonucleotide probe for the gene encoding the bundle-forming pilus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

An alkaline phosphatase-conjugated 29-base oligonucleotide probe was developed to detect the gene encoding the bundle-forming pilus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The sensitivity and specificity of the probe versus the results of localized adherence in the HEp-2 cell assay and fluorescent actin staining assay positivity were 95.7 and 100%, respectively.