AI Summary

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University studied chain‑like adherence pattern (CLAP) strains of Shiga toxin‑producing *E. coli* (STEC). They found that a single bacterium first attaches to a surface, elongates, and then divides, forming a continuous chain that never separates. When fluid flow is applied, the ends of these chains can break off. The detached chain ends are capable of attaching to new surfaces, allowing the bacteria to disperse. This mechanism explains how the harmful STEC strains spread.

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