Technological progress over the past several decades has led to deciphering the human genome. Man is not the only living creature to have a genome. Indeed, it’s the common link between all living beings, including bacteria, for example. In the mid-1990’s, Dr. Christel Neut from Lille discovered a particular subspecies of Escherichia coli (a bacteria commonly found in the human intestines) associated with relapse during the course of Crohn’s disease. Since that time, it has been renamed AIEC (adherent-invasive E. coli) because of the harmful properties which characterize it. The team of Arlette Darfeuille-Michaud has recently deciphered the complete genome of this AIEC. This highly important advance will enable us to better understand this enemy, making it easier to combat. After all, as the saying goes: “Forewarned is forearmed”.

By Laurent Dubuquoy

Reference:

Miquel S, Peyretaillade E, Claret L, de Vallée A, Dossat C, Vacherie B, Zineb el H, Segurens B, Barbe V, Sauvanet P, Neut C, Colombel JF, Medigue C, Mojica FJ, Peyret P, Bonnet R, Darfeuille-Michaud A. Complete genome sequence of Crohn's disease-associated adherent-invasive E. coli strain LF82. PLoS One. 2010 Sep 17;5(9). pii: e12714