Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic Gamma-proteobacterium, which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. While being an important constituent of the normal gut microbiota, specialized E. coli clones have acquired genetic elements that allow them to compete with the endogenous commensals, colonise normally sterile niches and cause disease. E. coli pathotypes can cause intestinal and extra intestinal infections (e.g. UTI, sepsis) and associate with mammalian cells while being extra- or intra-cellular. In recent years, E. coli infections have become a serious clinical problem, due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance. Thus, infections with intestinal E. coli (e.g. E. coli O104) or extraintestinal pathogenic strains (e.g. E. coli ST131) are becoming difficult to treat and are often lethal. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop alternative control measures, including the identification of new drug targets and development of vaccines that offer lasting protection. This volume focuses on several types of E. coli infections (intestinal and extraintestinal), virulence factors, and E. coli pandemics. It addresses the problem of antibiotic resistance, and a dedicated chapter discusses the need to develop alternative control measures. Given its depth and breadth of coverage, the book will benefit all those interested in the biology, genetics, physiology and pathogenesis of E. coli, and in related vaccine development.

The meeting on "Microbial Surface Components and Toxins in Relation to Pathogenesis" was held on May 15-19, 1989, in the Mitzpe Rachel guesthouse of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel in Israel. Four major topics formed the basis for the meeting: adhesion and colonization; cell invasion and intracellular multipli cation; evasion of host defenses; toxins and systemic effects. The presentations clearly show that our understanding of the pathology, pathogenesis and bacteria-host cell inter-action has greatly advanced over the last few years. The contributions to our knowledge on the biogenesis of adhesins and their molecular organization, as well as on the mechanism of adherence to infected target tissue by pathogenic bacteria, have been particularly impressive. significant progress has been made in defining the nature of pathogenic and cytotoxic factors produced by bacteria, and much has been learned about the biochemical and antigenic modifications occurring in diverse types of host cells upon infection. The discussions of poly saccharide capsules, bacterial endotoxins and secreted toxins illustrated the challenge and the possibilities for vaccine development."