Escherichia Coli (E – coli)

  They are gram negative, rod shaped, capsulated and facultative anaerobe ( prefer oxygen rich condition for production of energy)

Antigens:

·         O – Antigen (somatic antigen):

                                Present in body

·         K – Antigen (capsular antigen):

                                Present in capsule

·         H – Antigen (flagellar antigen):

                                Present in flagella

Toxins:

·         Endotoxin: Present inside the body

·         Exotoxin: Present in capsule

·         Adhesion factor: Helps E – coli in adhesion

·         Enterotoxin: Cause problems in intestine

Habitat:

                Part of normal flora present in intestine, contaminated food and water

Mode of transmission:

·         Orofaecal route

·         Urethra called as retrograde infection may ascend up to the kidney urethritis cystic and polynephritis. This whole is called UTIs.

·         Mother to baby during child birth

Pathologies:

·         UTI

·         Traveler’s diarrhea (acquire during travel due to food poisoning)

·         Dysentery (blood in faeces)

·         Meningitis

                No immunity for E – coli infection (no vaccine)