Current Worlwide Issue : E-Coli Bacteria Outbreak

Hye,
Here, I want to Share Something About the the E-Coli Bacteria.

" Species of bacterium that normally inhabits the stomach and intestines. When E. coli is consumed in water, milk, or food or is transmitted through the bite of a fly or other insect, it can cause gastrointestinal illness. Mutations can lead to strains that cause diarrhea by giving off toxins, invading the intestinal lining, or sticking to the intestinal wall. Therapy for gastrointestinal illness consists largely of fluid replacement, though specific drugs are effective in some cases. The illness is usually self-limiting, with no evidence of long-lasting effects. However, one dangerous strain causes bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, and death in extreme cases. Proper cooking of meat and washing of produce can prevent infection from contaminated food sources. "

Attributes of E. Coli

E. coli is important to human health because it is a source of vitamins B12 and K, which it manufactures from undigested food in the large intestine. Unlike many other intestinal bacteria, E. coli can survive and grow in the presence of oxygen (although it can also grow without oxygen), which makes it a useful experimental model organism in the laboratory.

Even though E. coli is a single species of bacteria, many different varieties (called strains) of the species exist. Each has different characteristics, and while some are safe model organisms, others can cause potentially deadly disease. This is the case with E. coli 0157:H7, which is considered a dangerous pathoge which can infect humans. This strain is significantly different from the commonly used laboratory strains, which do not cause disease.