Polynucleotides which are of nature B2/D+ A- and which are isolated from E. coli, and biological uses of these polynucleotides and of their polypeptides

Isolated polynucleotides having a nature B2/D+ A−, with a sequence selected from the group comprising:

• the sequences SEQ ID No1 to 153,
• the polynucleotide sequences obtainable by digesting the total DNA of an E. coli of group B2 or group D with a restriction enzyme, selecting those of the obtained fragments which hybridize with at least one sequence selected in the group consisting of SEQ ID No 134, 144, 109, 115, 140, 135, 33, 56, 122, 130, 141, 25, 48, 51, 57, 121,44, 45, 113, 119, 120, 23, 52, and
• the sequences of the orfs containing one of said sequences,
• the nature-conserving variant or fractional sequences of said sequences.

The use for making drugs for preventing or treating, E. coli extra-intestinal infections of at least one polynucleotide selected from the group comprising:

• the polynucleotides corresponding to the chuA gene and to its operon,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to SEQ ID NO:
• 170, 171, 174, 175, 178, 179, 183, 185, 186, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 202, 205, 206, 208, 209, 211, 214, 218, 220, 221, 233, 234, 235, 241, 244, 246, 247, 248 and 250,
• the polynucleotides which can be obtained by digesting the total DNA of an E. coli of group B2 or D with a restriction enzyme chosen from the group consisting of NotI and BlnI, and selecting those of the fragments obtained which hybridize to at least one sequence chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 125, 123, 116, 43, 40, 127, 133, 27, 34, 36, 42, 46, 54, 55, 38, 128 and 151, with the exception of the polynucleotides sfa, hly, cnf1, pap/prs, hra and ibe 10,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to an orf comprising the sequence of one of the polynucleotides cited in the preceding three paragraphs,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to a nature-conserving variant or fractional sequence of the sequence of at least one of these polynucleotides (and in particular SEQ ID NO:
• 241, 195, 185 and 248),
• the pair of primers, the probes and the antisense polynucleotides, the sequence of which is as derived from these polynucleotides,
• the peptides encoded by said polynucleotides,
• the binding products which are capable of binding to a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide which is of novel nature B2/D+ A−.

A method for identifying a compound capable of inhibiting the extra-intestinal growth of E. coli, which comprises the detection of at least one compound:

• i. capable of binding to at least one polynucleotide chosen from the group consisting of:
• novel polynucleotides which are of novel nature B2/D+ A−, i.e.
• the sequences SEQ ID NO:
• 1 to NO:
• 153,
• the polynucleotide sequences which can be obtained by digesting the total DNA of an E. coli of group B2 or group D (such as, for example, an E. coli strain isolated from the blood of a patient suffering from a septicaemic or meningeal infection) with a restriction enzyme chosen from the group consisting of NotI and BlnI, selecting those of the fragments obtained which hybridize with at least one sequence chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 134, 144, 109, 115, 140, 135, 33, 56, 122, 130, 141, 25, 48, 51, 57, 121, 44, 45, 113, 119, 120, 23, 52 and sequencing selected fragments, and
• the sequences of the orfs (open reading frames) which contain one of these sequences,
• the nature-conserving variant or fractional sequences of these sequences,
• the polynucleotides corresponding to the chuA gene and to its operon,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to SEQ ID NO:
• 170, 171, 174, 175, 178, 179, 183, 185, 186, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 202, 205, 206, 208, 209, 211, 214, 218, 220, 221, 233, 234, 235, 241, 244, 246, 247, 248 and 250,
• the polynucleotides which are as obtained by digesting the total DNA of an E. coli of group B2 or D with a restriction enzyme chosen from the group consisting of NotI and BlnI, and selecting those of the fragments obtained which hybridize to at least one sequence chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 125, 123, 116, 43, 40, 127, 133, 27, 34, 36, 42, 46, 54, 55, 38, 128 and 151, with the exception of the polynucleotides sfa, hly, cnf1, pap/prs, hra and ibe 10,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to an orf comprising the sequence of one of the polynucleotides cited in the preceding four paragraphs,
• the polynucleotides the sequence of which corresponds to a nature-conserving variant or fractional sequence of the sequence of at least one of these polynucleotides and in particular (SEQ ID NO:
• 241, 195, 185 and 248), and
• ii. capable of specifically inhibiting the correct transcription and/or translation of this polynucleotide.