Shape and Size

Rod-shaped and 2.0 ¼m long and 0.25 1.0 ¼m in diameter

Genome Information

Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. RefSeq: NC_002695.1, Size 5.5 Mb, GC% 50.5, Protein 5,204,rRNA 22, tRNA 105, Other RNA 14, Gene 5,360, Pseudogene 14 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=Escherichia+coli

Food Source

unwashed vegetables or poorly butchered and undercooked meat.

Pathological Factor

E. coli produce either shiga toxin or shiga like toxin (verotoxin). The verocytotoxin (shiga-like toxin) can directly damage renal and endothelial cells. Shiga toxins act to inhibit protein synthesis within target cells by a mechanism similar to that of ricin.

Disease

traveler's diarrhea, Bacteremia, Cholangitis, Cholecystitis, Pneumonia, gastroenteritis, enterocolitis,

Symptoms

Watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, with or without fever. The most common symptom of acute cholecystitis is upper abdominal pain. Serious bacterial infections occur, including pneumonia, septic arthritis, brain abscesses, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, meningitis, and sepsis, possibly resulting in death.

Affected Body Organs

gall bladder, gastrointestinal organs,