Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Escherichia is a genus of Gram-negative, non-spore forming, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae.^1] In those species which are inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, Escherichia species provide a portion of the microbially-derived vitamin K for their host. A number of the species of Escherichia are pathogenic.^[2] The genus is named after Theodor Escherich, discoverer of E. coli

Pathogenesis

While many Escherichia are harmless commensals, particular strains of some species are human pathogens,^[3] and are known as the most common cause of urinary tract infections,^[4] significant sources of gastrointestinal disease, ranging from simple diarrhea to dysentery-like conditions,^[1] as well as a wide-range of other pathogenic states.^[5] While Escherichia coli is responsible for the vast majority of Escherichia-related pathogenesis, other members of the genus have also been implicated in human disease.^[6][7]

See also

• E. coli O157:H7
• List of bacterial genera named after personal names

i>Escherichia is a genus of Gram-negative, n on-spore forming, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae.^1] In those species which are inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, Escherichia species provide a portion of the microbially-derived vitamin K for their host. A number of the species of Escherichia are pathogenic.^[2] The genus is named after Theodor Escherich, discoverer of E. coli

Pathogenesis

While many Escherichia are harmless commensals, particular strains of some species are human pathogens,^[3] and are known as the most common cause of urinary tract infections,^[4] significant source s of gastrointestinal disease, ranging from simple diarrhea to dysentery-like conditions,^[1] as well as a wide-range of other pathogenic states.^[5] While Escherichia coli is responsible for the vast majority of Escherichia-related pathogenesis, other members of the genus have also been implicated in human disease.^[6][7]

See also

• E. coli O157:H7
• List of bacterial genera named after personal names

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1. 
2. ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2010. Bacteria. Encyclopedia of Earth. eds. Sidney Draggan and C.J.Cleveland, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC
3. ^ Guentzel MN (1996). Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter, and Proteus. In: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al., eds.) (4th ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. ISBN 0-9631172-1-1. (via NCBI Bookshelf). 
4. ^ Ronald A (2003). "The etiology of urinary tract infection: traditional and emerging pathogens". Dis Mon 49 (2): 71?82. doi:10.1016/S0011-5029(03)90001-0. PMID 12601338. 
5. ^ "The Species of Escherichia other than E. coli". The Prokaryotes. http://141.150.157.117:8080/prokPUB/chaphtm/142/11_00.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-05. 
6. ^ Pien FD, Shrum S, Swenson JM, Hill BC, Thornsberry C, Farmer JJ 3rd (1985). "Colonization of human wounds by Escherichia vulneris and Escherichia hermannii". J Clin Microbiol 22 (2): 283?5. PMC 268376. PMID 3897270. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=268376. 
7. ^ Chaudhury A, Nath G, Tikoo A, Sanyal SC (1999). "Enteropathogenicity and antimicrobial susceptibility of new Escherichia spp". J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 17 (2): 85?7. PMID 10897892. 

External links

• Escherichia genomes and related information at PATRIC, a Bioinformatics Resource Center funded by NIAID