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Mechanisms of emerging diarrheagenic Escherichia coli infection

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Abstract

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli organisms are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless commensals, a few types have emerged that are capable of disrupting the normal physiology of the human gut, producing illness ranging from watery diarrhea to fatal hemorrhagic colitis. Diarrheagenic E. coli cause infection by a variety of complex mechanisms, some of which are incompletely understood. These include adherence, elaboration of toxigenic mediators, invasion of the intestinal mucosa, and transportation of bacterial proteins into the host cells. Specific components of the host-microbial interaction that cause damage have been identified, increasing our understanding of the mechanisms of diarrhea. This article reviews some of the recent findings about the pathogenesis and infectious processes involved in three emerging pathotypes of this fascinating gramnegative bacterium.

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  1. Room D458, Heather Pavilion, 2733 Heather Street, V5Z 3J5, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Mohammed A. Khan MD & Ted S. Steiner MD

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  1. Mohammed A. Khan MD
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  2. Ted S. Steiner MD
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Khan, M.A., Steiner, T.S. Mechanisms of emerging diarrheagenic Escherichia coli infection. Curr Infect Dis Rep 4, 112–117 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-002-0050-y

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