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Date: | Wed, 7 Jan 1998 10:49:00 +0100 |
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Hi, Stefan,
> Also I read in the newspaper, that beneficial bacteria of the species
> E-Coli are normally harmless and needed in the intestines, but can
> become dangerous for people with weakened immune system, especially
> AIDS patients.
The problem with the species E. coli is that there are "beneficial"
strains which are part of the normal intestinal flora and others
which have aquired a whole lot of virulence factors. The latter ones
can cause severe intestinal and/or extraintestinal diseases. Perhaps
you have heard or read somewhere of
ETEC = enterotoxigenic E. coli
EPEC = enteropathogenic E. coli
EIEC = enteroinvasive E. coli
STEC = Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli
EHEC = enterohemorrhagic E. coli
These are NOT benevolent strains and you don't necessarily need to have a
weakened immune system to get infected with them.
Best regards,
Sylvia Franke
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