A bacterium that commonly inhabits the human intestine as well as the intestine of other vertebrates (i.e., animals possessing a skeleton). The most thoroughly studied of all bacteria, Escherichia coli is used in many microbiological experiments. It has historically been considered the workhorse of genetic engineering research, and genetically engineered versions have been used to produce human proteins (e.g., insulin). One of the more exotic uses of genetically engineered Escherichia coli was to make indigo dye (originally discovered in 1983, using indole or tryptophan as starting materials). In 1993, Burt D. Ensley and coworkers at Amgen discovered a way to genetically engineer Escherichia coli to produce indigo from glucose starting material. Escherichia coU has 4,288 genes.
Abbreviation of a term for intestinal bacteria.
A bacterium known as Escherichia coli that has hundreds of strains, some of which produce a powerful toxin that may cause severe illness. Most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Strains of E. coli are differentiated from one another by specific markers found on their surface. One strain, referred to as diarrheagenic Escherichia coli or non-Shiga toxin- producing E. coli, causes travelers’ diarrhea, which is usually mild and self-limiting. E. coli is also a common cause of urinary tract infections. A Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause severe symptoms and is life- threatening; this E. coli was first identified as a cause of food-borne illness in the United States in 1982.