Chapter 25, Problem 4R

Summary Introduction

To review:

The reason why E. coli is both beneficial and harmful.

Introduction:

Microorganisms that have the ability to cause infectious diseases are called as pathogens. Illness in an individual is caused either by disturbing the normal metabolic activity of the host or by inducing the host’s immune system to produce a response. Approximately 10¹⁴ microbes are known to inhabit in the gut of a healthy human being. These normal gut microflora play an essential role in the metabolism of indigestible food materials and in the protection of the gut from colonization of pathogens.