AUTHOR=Braz VĂ¢nia Santos , Melchior Karine , Moreira Cristiano Gallina TITLE=Escherichia coli as a Multifaceted Pathogenic and Versatile Bacterium JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.548492 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.548492 ISSN=2235-2988 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.