Patricia Garvey

Animal, food and biomedical aspects of verocytotoxigenic E. coli: a European concerted action project

Abstract A Concerted Action project titled “A European study on animal, food and biomedical aspects of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli including serotype O157:H7, an emerging pathogen’’ is funded within the European Agriculture and Fisheries Framework IV Programme (CT98-3935) and runs for three years (May 1998 to May 2001). This paper summarises the main objectives and activities of this programme. The project involves 31 participants representing 12 European countries and brings together groups from academia and industry who have an active interest in verocytoxigenic Escherichia coli . Five main thematic areas are being addressed in this project including methods for VTEC, survival and growth of VTEC, pathogenicity and virulence of VTEC and epidemiology of VTEC. These thematic areas are being addressed principally via six monthly research meetings and workshops. Dissemination of information from the project is by conference proceedings, technical booklets reviewing the thematic areas and a project web site (http://www.research.teagasc.ie/vteceurope).