Escherichia Coli bacterium Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Escherichia Coli bacterium - Research Paper Example This bacterium is not completely aerobic that is it can survive in the presence of oxygen and it also has the capability to exist in the absence of oxygen by the process of fermentation. E. coli also has the property of movement though there are certain forms of the bacteria that form exceptions and do not move. The mobility is provided to it by flagellum, which is referred to as peritrichous flagella that is present on all sides of the bacteria. The bacterium does not have the property of forming spores. The bacterium has three antigens present. The antigen which is present on the cell wall of the bacteria is the â€Å"O† antigen, the antigen which is present on the flagellum is the â€Å"H† antigen and the antigen which is found on the capsule of the bacteria is the â€Å"K† antigen. These antigens have great variability with each of them existing in many different forms. This is the reason that E. coli exists in many different forms (Charles Davis; This bacter ia has been associated with many pathological conditions which include the inflammation of the gall bladder, inflammation of the biliary tract, infections of the urinary tract and the blood as well as diarrhea particularly traveler’s diarrhea.... E. coli is also listed as an infection which occurs in the hospital settings and has been associated with an average of 31 percent hospital acquired infections in the United States as well as a cause of diarrhea in 4 percent of the people. The meningeal inflammation that results due to E. coli should not be overlooked because it accounts for 8 percent of the deaths due to this condition and it can also result in pathological conditions of the nervous system (Science Daily; WHO 2005). Pathogenesis: The diarrhea that occurs due to the E. coli is caused by four classes of this bacterium which function in different ways. The first one is the Enteropathogenic E. coli that affect usually infants below the age of two years and hence occurrences are mostly reported from maternity homes. This group of E.coli has the capability of binding to the cells of the intestine and destructs its microvillus which leads to diarrhea. The spread occurs through the consumption of water or via the food that infants consume. (Charles Davis; WHO 2005). The next group of E. coli is Enterocytotoxigenic E. coli. This group is the major cause for traveler’s diarrhea in all age groups. It produces exotoxins which are known as heat labile and heat stable exotoxins. They have an effect on adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase respectively. These enzymes lead to a cascade of reactions which cause retention of fluid and electrolytes with the passage of the intestine. This is turn results in diarrhea. The cause for this infection is also via the dietary intake. The world health organization has reported that this group of E. coli accounts for a mortality rate which is very