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Species of bacterium that normally inhabits the stomach and  intestines. When E. coli is consumed in water, milk, or food or is  transmitted through the bite of a fly or other insect, it can cause  gastrointestinal illness. Mutations can lead to strains that cause diarrhea by  giving off toxins, invading the intestinal lining, or sticking to the intestinal  wall. Therapy for gastrointestinal illness consists largely of fluid  replacement, though specific drugs are effective in some cases. The illness is  usually self-limiting, with no evidence of long-lasting effects. However, one  dangerous strain causes bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, and death in extreme  cases. Proper cooking of meat and washing of produce can prevent infection from  contaminated foods.