Escherichia coli-Related Diseases in Latin America Remain in the Spotlight: the Brazilian Efforts to Understand E. coli Pathogenesis

Although the 21 st century has seen significant changes in health care reforms and practices, and has experienced quick progression in the understanding of infectious diseases, diarrhea caused by enteric infections is a major factor in morbidity and mortality worldwide and it is estimated 2-4 billion episodes of infectious diarrhea occur each year and are especially prevalent in infants. Further, diarrhea as well as other infections associated with different pathogenic Escherichia coli strains continue to be a health problem in some tropical and subtropical areas and are one of the leading causes of disease and death in humans and animals [1]. In Latin America, infectious disease research, as well as basic and applied science in general, is receiving significant attention, despite many challenges that the scientific community are still facing in this region. In response to the significant increase in the number of scientific papers published by Latin American authors, governments (particularly those of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico) have announced packages and incentives to foster science and technology [2].