Glossary of Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)

While writing our articles on STEC, we quickly realized that there were many acronyms and abbreviations. Even ourself were a little bit lost.

So, we decided to build a glossary, and because we don’t like to keep things to ourselves, here it is:

AEEC: Attaching and Effacing Escherichia coli are strains of E. coli possessing the eae gene which encodes for Intimin (a protein that allows the bacteria to adhere to the intestinal epithelial cells). Strain isolated from food.

Big Five (also found as TOP 5): The following 5 serotypes of E. coli: O157:H7, O26:H11, O145:H28, O103:H2, and O111:H8

Big Seven (also found as TOP 7): The following 7 serotypes of E. coli: O157:H7, O26:H11, O145:H28, O103:H2, O111:H8, O45:H2, and O121:H19

DAEC: Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli. A strain of E. coli producing non-fimbrial adhesin (afa gene). Strain isolated from a sick patient

eae: gene coding for Intimin (a protein that allows the bacteria adhesion to the intestine)

EAEC: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Strain isolated from a sick patient

EIEC: Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. Strain isolated from a sick patient

EHEC: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. This is the name used for strains isolated from sick patients. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli are a subgroup of STEC, they are the pathogenic strains of STEC for humans.

Atypical EHEC: EHEC possessing the stx gene isolated from a sick patient = STEC.

Typical EHEC: EHEC possessing the stx and eae genes isolated from patients = pathogenic STEC.

EPEC: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, isolated from patients equivalent to AEEC, has the stx gene.

ETEC: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Strain isolated from a sick patient.

Serotype: serogroup + H flagellar antigen

Serogroup: The somatic O antigen

STEC: Strains of E. coli producing Shiga toxins. Shiga toxins are encoded by stx genes.

Pathogenic STEC: Strain of E. coli possessing the stx + eae genes

stx: genes coding for Shiga toxins. There are several stx genes (stx1, stx2, stx2c/d, stx2e/f)

VTEC: Verotoxin-producing E. coli, former name of STEC

vtx: gene coding for Verotoxin (former name of Shiga toxins)

HUS: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. It is an infectious disease that can be caused by STEC.

See any others? Come tell us.