It is over. The outbreak of the enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O104:H4 infection that had its major focus in Germany [1] and affected people in many other European countries has officially come to an end [2]. While the media coverage has been decreasing, the scientific community has been working to understand the reason why this dramatic outbreak occurred. We have learnt that the pa...

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, plaquetopenia and kidney damage. It is the leading cause of acute renal failure in pediatric age and the second for chronic renal failure. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the first etiologic agent of HUS being its main reservoir cattle and transmitted via contaminated food. At present, there ...

Microvascular endothelial damage underlies the pathological changes in haemorrhagic colitis and the haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Shiga toxins (Stxs) are presently the best characterised EHEC virulence factors that can cause the microvascular endothelium injury. Stxs are released by EHEC in the intestine, absorbed across the gut epitheli...

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are considered two of the most serious food-borne bacteria. These pathogens are able to adapt to a wide variety of environments and can enter the food chain at any point. Over recent time there have been a number of notable, large-scale outbreaks associated with fresh fruit and vegetables. Both pathogens are zoonoses and commonly assoc...