Amplification by the polymerase chain reaction of a specific target sequence in the gene coding for Escherichia coli verotoxin (VTe variant).

Synthetic oligonucleotide primers were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to target a specific sequence in the gene coding for the A subunit of Escherichia coli verotoxin (VTe-variant, VTev). This PCR protocol permits the VTe-variant target sequence to be distinguished from closely related sequences in the same coding regions for type 1, type 2, and type 2 variant E. coli verotoxins. This procedure will be a valuable adjunct to other DNA amplification techniques currently being used for molecular epidemiological studies of verotoxigenic E. coli.