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Review
. 2020 Dec 21:10:548492.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.548492. eCollection 2020.

Escherichia coli as a Multifaceted Pathogenic and Versatile Bacterium

Vânia Santos Braz  1 , Karine Melchior  1 , Cristiano Gallina Moreira  1
Affiliations
Review

Escherichia coli as a Multifaceted Pathogenic and Versatile Bacterium

Vânia Santos Braz et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. .

Abstract

Genetic plasticity promotes evolution and a vast diversity in Escherichia coli varying from avirulent to highly pathogenic strains, including the emergence of virulent hybrid microorganism. This ability also contributes to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. These hybrid pathogenic E. coli (HyPEC) are emergent threats, such as O104:H4 from the European outbreak in 2011, aggregative adherent bacteria with the potent Shiga-toxin. Here, we briefly revisited the details of these E. coli classic and hybrid pathogens, the increase in antimicrobial resistance in the context of a genetically empowered multifaceted and versatile bug and the growing need to advance alternative therapies to fight these infections.

Keywords: Escherichia; genetic mobility; multiresistant; pathogenesis; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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