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Index][Thread Index] In reply to your question as to whether or
not E coli 0157:H7 and the other verotoxin toxin strains
acquired the toxin gene by laboratory genetic engineering. There
has been serious discussion in the literature debating that
point. There is evidence that the verotoxin genes can be
transmitted born on a transducing bacteriaphage (meaning that
the toxin genes may be transmitted between bacteria on a virus).
It seems most likely that the transfer of the toxin genes is a
natural phenomenon and one amplified by growing problem of the
proximity of farm animals and people, feedlot fattening of range
cattle in the corn county has created a lot of poop near fruit
and vegetable farms and near main municipal wells. The people
made ill have bloody diarrhea but most of those killed or
crippled suffer kidney and later other organ damage from the
verotoxin. It has been claimed that the pasture or feedlot run
off of the bacteria can be greatly reduced