Escherichia coli is a gram-negative bacterium. Ubiquitous in nature, it colonises the human intestine during the first days of life. In its commensal role, it does not cause disease and it can mainly be found in the mucus layer of the colon. Little is known about the role of commensal E. coli, its ability to metabolize gluconate probably gives selective advantage to other species. It is a reservoir of antibiotic resistance and it can acquire virulent factors which lead to the production of enterotoxins, causing different diseases.
References:
Kaper, J. B., Nataro, J. P. & Mobley, H. L. T. Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2, 123–140 (2004)
Escherichia coli
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