What type of E. coli is particularly known for producing Shiga toxins?

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is particularly known for producing Shiga toxins, which are potent and can lead to severe illness. This specific strain of E. coli is associated with foodborne outbreaks and can cause symptoms ranging from abdominal cramps and diarrhea to more severe complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can result in kidney failure. The production of Shiga toxins is a significant factor in the pathogenicity of E. coli O157:H7, making this strain particularly dangerous compared to other types of E. coli.

Other types of E. coli, while they can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, do not produce Shiga toxins or are associated with different mechanisms of disease. For example, Enteropathogenic E. coli primarily causes diarrhea through adherence to the intestinal lining but does not produce Shiga toxins. Similarly, Enterotoxigenic E. coli is known for producing enterotoxins that lead to watery diarrhea, commonly associated with traveler's diarrhea but lacks the Shiga toxin production. The option referring to Shiga toxin E. coli is essentially a descriptor rather than a distinct classification, and it's more accurate to identify E. coli O157:H7 as the well-known strain associated with Shiga toxin production.