Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other enteric pathogens

Pathogenic Escherichia coli and other enteric pathogens represent a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria responsible for significant gastrointestinal and systemic morbidity worldwide (WHO, 2022). These organisms, including various E. coli pathotypes (ETEC, EPEC, EHEC), Salmonella, and Shigella, utilize specialized virulence factors such as adhesins and toxins to colonize the host and cause disease (CDC, 2023). While most E. coli are harmless commensals, pathogenic strains have acquired genetic elements that allow them to bypass host defenses and disrupt intestinal homeostasis (NIH, 2021). Treatment often involves antimicrobial therapy, but the choice of drug is complicated by the high prevalence of multi-drug resistance and the specific risk of triggering Shiga toxin release in certain infections (StatPearls, 2023). Because this entry refers to a broad category of organisms rather than a single protein or receptor, it is not considered a specific molecular therapeutic target in the traditional sense. Instead, drug discovery efforts focus on specific bacterial enzymes or pathways within these pathogens to develop narrow-spectrum or novel anti-infectives.

Other names

Enteric pathogensDiarrheagenic E. coliGastrointestinal pathogensEnterobacteriaceae pathogens

Antibiotics targeting these pathogens function through various mechanisms: fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin) inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV; macrolides (e.g., azithromycin) inhibit the 50S ribosomal subunit; and beta-lactams (e.g., ceftriaxone) inhibit cell wall synthesis (StatPearls, 2023).