Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli (when referring to the species; no unique abbreviation for "pathogenic" forms))

Pathogenic *Escherichia coli* refers collectively to those strains of *E. coli* that possess specific virulence factors enabling them to cause disease in humans or animals. While most *E. coli* are harmless commensals found in the gut flora of warm-blooded animals and humans, pathogenic variants can cause a range of diseases including gastroenteritis/diarrhea (e.g., enteropathogenic [EPEC], enterohemorrhagic [EHEC]/Shiga toxin-producing [STEC]), urinary tract infections (uropathogenic [UPEC]), neonatal meningitis, and sepsis. These bacteria are gram-negative rods belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae and can be transmitted via contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact through fecal–oral routes. Pathogenesis depends on strain-specific mechanisms such as production of toxins—most notably Shiga toxins in STEC/EHEC—adherence factors that allow colonization and damage to host tissues, immune evasion strategies, and sometimes invasion beyond the gut mucosa leading to systemic disease. The term "Pathogenic Escherichia coli" is not a single molecular target but rather a broad category encompassing multiple pathotypes defined by their distinct virulence genes and clinical syndromes; thus it does not refer to one specific molecule/receptor but rather an entire group/species with diverse targets within it. **Note:** The entry "Pathogenic Escherichia coli" is **not** a single molecular target such as an enzyme or receptor but instead refers broadly to any disease-causing strain within the species *Escherichia coli*. For structured drug discovery databases focused on molecular targets rather than pathogens/species-level entries this would be considered **incorrect** ([is_incorrect]: true). If you require information about a specific virulence factor/protein from these bacteria—such as Shiga toxin or intimin—it would be more appropriate to specify that molecule directly.

Other names

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coliEPECShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC)intestinal pathogenic E. colidiarrheagenic E. coli

Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis or protein synthesis by antibiotics. For STEC/EHEC infections specifically, supportive care is primary as antibiotics may worsen outcomes by increasing toxin release.