Escherichia
SEM micrograph of cluster of Escherichia coli bacteria. Each individual bacterium is oblong shaped
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Gammaproteobacteria
Order:	Enterobacteriales
Family:	Enterobacteriaceae
Genus:	Escherichia Castellani & Chalmers 1919
Species
E. albertii E. blattae E. coli E. fergusonii E. hermannii E. vulneris

Escherichia is a genus of Gram-negative, non-spore forming, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae.^[1] In those species which are inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, Escherichia species provide a portion of the microbially-derived vitamin K for their host.

[edit] Pathogenesis

While many Escherichia are harmless commensals, particular strains of some species are human pathogens,^[2] and are known as the most common cause of urinary tract infections,^[3] significant sources of gastrointestinal disease, ranging from simple diarrhea to dysentery-like conditions,^[1] as well as a wide-range of other pathogenic states.^[4] While Escherichia coli is responsible for the vast majority of Escherichia-related pathogenesis, other members of the genus have also been implicated in human disease.^[5],[6]

[edit] See also

• E. coli O157:H7

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1. 
2. ^ Guentzel MN (1996). Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter, and Proteus. In: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al., eds.) (4th ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1. 
3. ^ Ronald A (2003). "The etiology of urinary tract infection: traditional and emerging pathogens". Dis Mon 49 (2): 71–82. doi:10.1016/S0011-5029(03)90001-0. PMID 12601338. 
4. ^ "The Species of Escherichia other than E. coli". The Prokaryotes. http://141.150.157.117:8080/prokPUB/chaphtm/142/11_00.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-05. 
5. ^ Pien FD, Shrum S, Swenson JM, Hill BC, Thornsberry C, Farmer JJ 3rd (1985). "Colonization of human wounds by Escherichia vulneris and Escherichia hermannii". J Clin Microbiol 22 (2): 283–5. PMID 3897270. 
6. ^ Chaudhury A, Nath G, Tikoo A, Sanyal SC (1999). "Enteropathogenicity and antimicrobial susceptibility of new Escherichia spp". J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 17 (2): 85–7. PMID 10897892.