E. coli News and Research

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E. coli or Escherichia coli is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines. Most types of E. coli are harmless. However, some types can make you sick and cause diarrhea. One type causes travelers' diarrhea. The worst type of E. coli causes bloody diarrhea, and can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death. These problems are most likely to occur in children and in adults with weak immune systems. You can get E. coli infections by eating foods containing the bacteria. To help avoid food poisoning and prevent infection, handle food safely. Cook meat well, wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them, and avoid unpasteurized milk and juices. You can also get the infection by swallowing water in a swimming pool contaminated with human waste. Most cases of E. coli infection get better without treatment in 5 to 10 days.

Childhood diarrhea from pathogens more common than previously thought?

The number of cases of childhood diarrhea, and its mortality toll of 500,000 per year, has not changed. Now, however, we can explain ~90% of the cases to specific pathogens. We can assign responsibility.

15 Dec 2016

Researchers discover first toxin antitoxin system in biofilms

Bacterial resistance does not come just through adaptation to antibiotics, sometimes the bacteria simply go to sleep.

8 Dec 2016

Restaurants not effective in communicating risks of eating undercooked meat to customers, study shows

Front-line staff, such as servers in restaurants, are often trusted with providing customers with food safety information regarding their meals.

1 Dec 2016

Clinically-proven pharmacy product effective against causes of Traveller's Diarrhoea

It is not only overseas holidays that can be ruined by the dreaded Traveller's Diarrhoea.

23 Nov 2016

ASN to honor Amit X. Garg with Young Investigator Award

The American Society of Nephrology will honor Amit X. Garg, MD, PhD by presenting him with the ASN-AHA Young Investigator Award during the society's annual meeting, ASN Kidney Week 2016, held November 15-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

21 Nov 2016

Scientists capture DNA intermediates that reveal how cancer evolves

Scientists from Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions are using synthetic biology to capture elusive, short-lived snippets of DNA that healthy cells produce on their way to becoming cancerous.

18 Nov 2016

New research shows impact of fiber deprivation on mouse gut

It sounds like the plot of a 1950s science fiction movie: normal, helpful bacteria that begin to eat their host from within, because they don't get what they want.

17 Nov 2016

Supercomputer models play key role in finding new drug candidates to combat antibiotic resistance

Supercomputer simulations at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have played a key role in discovering a new class of drug candidates that hold promise to combat antibiotic resistance.

17 Nov 2016

Phage therapy may be solution to treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections

Phage therapy may be a solution to treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since 2013, researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland have collected bacteriophages to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, and hope to start clinical phage therapy trials in the near future.

16 Nov 2016

York University researchers find new way to quickly trap and kill E. coli in water

Paper strips laced with sugar could be the sweetest solution so far, literally, to kill E. coli in contaminated water.

14 Nov 2016

Researchers exploring new platform for detecting pathogenic bacteria using bacteriophages

Bacterial pathogens pose serious health risks, especially for infants, young children, elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

10 Nov 2016

Researchers develop new strategy to immunize against microbes that cause foodborne illness

University of California, Irvine and MIT researchers have developed a new strategy to immunize against microbes that invade the gastrointestinal tract, including Salmonella, which causes more foodborne illness in the United States than any other bacteria.

8 Nov 2016

Scientists turn iron-scavenging power against common UTI-causing bacteria

For most invading bacteria, the bladder is not a friendly place. But for those that have figured out how to scavenge iron from their hosts, it's a fine place to grow and reproduce.

7 Nov 2016

Polysorbate slows toxic effects of E. coli poisoning

Polysorbate, a safe additive found in everything from ice cream to cosmetics, has been proven to slow the toxic effects of E. coli poisoning.

4 Nov 2016

Researchers engineer new weapon to destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Over the past few decades, many bacteria have become resistant to existing antibiotics, and few new drugs have emerged.

2 Nov 2016

Safe food additive can slow toxic effects of E. coli poisoning

Polysorbate, a safe additive found in everything from ice cream to cosmetics, has been proven to slow the toxic effects of E. coli poisoning.

1 Nov 2016

Study yields insights into shifts in epidemiology of multi-drug resistant organisms

A first-of-its-kind study of 900,000 hospital admissions from an integrated health system has yielded insights into shifts in the epidemiology of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in the community.

27 Oct 2016

Research could pave way for new approaches to kill antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria

Research by bioscientists at the University of Kent and the University of Queensland is expected to pave the way for new approaches to kill bacteria that no longer respond to conventional antibiotics.

27 Oct 2016

Reducing contamination rates in urine samples: an interview with Prof. Frank Chinegwundoh MBE

Contamination is thought to be a significant problem. Depending on which study you look at, the rates of urine contamination can be 17% or upwards. The standard method of midstream urine collection is for the healthcare professional...

26 Oct 2016

Tackling antimicrobial resistance by turning ideas into action

“This is our moment to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR),” declared Ed Whiting, Head of Policy and Chief of Staff, Wellcome Trust, London at Antibiotic Research UK’s inaugural lecture held at Portcullis House, Westminster today. Ed’s pragmatic discussion mirrored the theme of the event: turning ideas in action.

24 Oct 2016