Table of contents

1 Latin 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun phrase 1.3 Adjective

Latin

Etymology

From Scientific Latin terms describing one of two micro-organisms, with the genus name either Escherichia (after Theodor Escherich, who in 1885 discovered the bacterium) or Entamoeba (genus name for types of ameobas) and Coli, genitive of the Latin, for colon.

Noun phrase

E. coli or, properly Escherichia coli

1. A non-pathogenic ameoba which resides in the gastro-intestinal tract of some animals, including humans. (Entamoeba )
2. A group of gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia, which reside in the intestinal tracts of humans and many animals. Many such strains of these bacteria are very deadly and can cause food poisoning (urinary infections and enteritis.

Adjective

1. Describing an infection caused by a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli.