Few microorganisms are as versatile as Escherichia coli. An important member of the
normal intestinal microflora of humans and other mammals, E. coli has also been widely
exploited as a cloning host in recombinant DNA technology. But E. coli is more than just a
laboratory workhorse or harmless intestinal inhabitant; it can also be a highly versatile, and
frequently deadly, pathogen. Several different E. coli strains cause diverse intestinal and
extraintestinal diseases by means of virulence factors that affect a wide range of cellular …