The Relentless Evolution of Pathogenic Escherichia coli.

The article cites a research study on the relentless evolution of pathogenic escherichia coli. Shiga toxin producing strains of Escherichia coli are important emerging pathogens. Unknown before the late 1970s, these bacteria are now recognized as a leading cause of sporadic cases and outbreaks of afebrile bloody diarrhea in industrialized countries and are the major cause of diarrhea- associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. The damage these toxins inflict on these cells triggers intravascular coagulation, which leads to the major manifestations of HUS.