Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterial species common in the intestines of humans and other animals. Most strains are harmless, while some cause intestinal or extraintestinal disease.

Gram-negative bacteria: Bacteria whose cell envelopes contain a thin peptidoglycan layer between inner and outer membranes. E. coli belongs to this group, whose outer membrane shapes its staining and interactions with hosts.
Shiga toxin: A potent bacterial toxin that inhibits protein synthesis in susceptible eukaryotic cells. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can damage intestinal tissue and cause hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Escherichia coli K-12: A well-studied, generally nonpathogenic E. coli lineage widely used in research. K-12 is the standard laboratory lineage behind much of E. coli's experimental biology.
Commensalism: A biological interaction in which one organism benefits while the other is neither substantially helped nor harmed. Many intestinal E. coli populations live as commensals rather than causing disease.
Bacterial cell structure: The organization of a bacterial cell, including its membrane, cytoplasm, genetic material, and optional external structures. It provides the framework for understanding E. coli's envelope, flagella, and other cellular parts.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: An E. coli pathotype that produces enterotoxins causing watery diarrhea. Its toxins disrupt intestinal fluid balance, making it a major cause of traveler's diarrhea.
Molecular cloning: A set of methods for assembling and propagating defined DNA molecules in cells. E. coli commonly propagates recombinant plasmids during cloning workflows.
Pathogenic Escherichia coli: E. coli strains with traits that enable them to cause disease in humans or other animals. Pathogenic strains contrast with the many E. coli strains that inhabit the gut without illness.
Bacterial chromosome: The main DNA molecule carrying a bacterium's essential genetic information. E. coli's chromosome encodes core functions shared across the species.
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: An E. coli pathotype that attaches to intestinal cells and alters their surface structure. Its intimate attachment injures the intestinal lining without relying on Shiga toxin.

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