Escherichia Coli

Question 1

What is the microbiome?

Answer 1

All genetic material within organisms in a niche (e.g. gut)

Question 2

Describe E.coli

Answer 2

Gram negative
Rod shaped
Facultative anaerobes
Part of microbiome

Question 3

How does e.coli obtain energy?

Answer 3

Oxidation/reduction of organic substances

Question 4

What are the 2 types of E.coli?

Answer 4

Intestinal (caused by diarrhogenic E.coli)
Non intestinal (caused by non intestinal e. Coli)

Question 5

What are types of intestinal E. coli?

Answer 5

Enterohaemorrhagic
Enterotoxigenic
Enterpathogenic
Anything with entero!

Question 6

What are examples of non intestinal E. Coli?

Answer 6

Neonatal meningitis associated E. coli
Avian pathogenic
Mastitis E. coli
Unopathogenic

Question 7

How do intestinal e. Coli cause diseases?

Answer 7

Enterotoxins damage enterocytes

Leads fo diarrhoea

Question 8

What are shiga like toxins (STx)? What do they do?

Answer 8

Toxins carried by STEC (Shiga toxins e.coli)
Act on blood vessels to cause haemorrhage and kidney damage
Lead to oedema of face

Question 9

What is a key virulence factor for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and eneteropathogenic E. coli? What does it do?

Answer 9

LEE - locus of enterocyte effacement

Allows tight binding to the gut