Special Issue: Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Infections and Therapies

Abstract

Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium from the Enterobacteriaceae family that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals shortly after birth, and it is a lifelong colonizer of adults. This species persists as a harmless commensal in the mucous layer, interacting with the host in a mutualistic manner. However, there are certain strains with pathogenic properties that can cause disease, and, in turn, nonpathogenic intestinal E. coli can eventually cause or contribute to disease in compromised hosts