Escherichia coli strain VREC0374

Escherichia coli strain VREC0374 is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that exhibits a facultative anaerobic metabolism, thriving optimally at 37°C within a mesophilic temperature range. This strain is motile, possessing flagella, and is characterized by a cell arrangement that includes pairs and singles. It has a biotic relationship classified as free-living, indicating its ability to exist independently in various environments. The strain has a significant host range, affecting Homo sapiens, various livestock such as Bos taurus and Sus scrofa, and several other organisms, including birds, mammals, and even plants like Solanum lycopersicum and Brassica oleracea var. italica. This diverse array of hosts suggests that E. coli VREC0374 can adapt to different ecological niches, which may facilitate its transmission and survival in varied environments. Clinically, VREC0374 is associated with a range of health effects, primarily in humans, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), gastrointestinal infections, and severe conditions like septicemia and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Its pathogenicity underscores its potential impact on human health and agriculture, highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding such strains in both clinical and environmental contexts. The ability of E. coli VREC0374 to inhabit multiple hosts and its association with numerous health issues suggest that it plays a significant role in both human and animal health, as well as in the ecology of microbial communities, particularly in relation to disease dynamics and transmission pathways.