[Determining the pattern of outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria as a contribution to complex typing].

The aim of these investigations was to study relations between the serotype of E. coli strains and the pattern of their outer membrane proteins («OMP») in sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three groups of strains being well characterized at least serologically (01, 02, 018ac containing different K, H, and in part F antigens) were submitted to this analysis. In all cases a nearly complete paralellity between OMP pattern and O:K:H(F:) type was observed, provided that the strains were epidemiologically related. The posibility is discussed that the OMP type could be used as a guide marker for the complex typing of E. coli strains