Skip to main content

Escherichia Coli

Meaning

Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, represents a diverse group of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria typically found in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. While most E. coli strains are harmless commensal organisms, forming a vital component of the normal gut microbiota, certain pathogenic strains possess distinct virulence factors that enable them to cause a range of significant human diseases. These disease-causing variants are of particular clinical concern due to their potential to induce severe infections.