Biomaterial Database

ECA, the enterobacterial common antigen. 1988

H M Kuhn, and U Meier-Dieter, and H Mayer

Forschungsinstitut Borstel, F.R.G.

Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is a family-specific surface antigen shared by all members of the Enterobacteriaceae and is restricted to this family. It is found in freshly isolated wild-type strains as well as in laboratory strains like Escherichia coli K-12. The family specificity of ECA can be used for taxonomic and diagnostic purposes. ECA is located in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane. It is a glycophospholipid built up by an aminosugar heteropolymer linked to an L-glycerophosphatidyl residue. In a few rough mutants, in addition, the sugar chain can be bound to the complete lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core. Recently, for Shigella sonnei a lipid-free cyclic form of ECA was reported. The genetical determination of ECA is closely related to that of lipopolysaccharide. For biosynthesis of ECA and LPS partly the same sugar precursors and the same carrier lipid is used.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D004755	Enterobacteriaceae	A family of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form endospores. Its organisms are distributed worldwide with some being saprophytes and others being plant and animal parasites. Many species are of considerable economic importance due to their pathogenic effects on agriculture and livestock.	Coliform Bacilli,Enterobacteria,Ewingella,Leclercia,Paracolobactrum,Sodalis
D004756	Enterobacteriaceae Infections	Infections with bacteria of the family ENTEROBACTERIACEAE.	Enterobacterial Infections,Cronobacter Infections,Infections, Enterobacteriaceae,Infections, Enterobacterial,Cronobacter Infection,Enterobacteriaceae Infection,Enterobacterial Infection,Infection, Cronobacter,Infection, Enterobacteriaceae,Infection, Enterobacterial,Infections, Cronobacter
D005798	Genes, Bacterial	The functional hereditary units of BACTERIA.	Bacterial Gene,Bacterial Genes,Gene, Bacterial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000942	Antigens, Bacterial	Substances elaborated by bacteria that have antigenic activity.	Bacterial Antigen,Bacterial Antigens,Antigen, Bacterial