Color enhanced scanning electron microscope (SEM) of toxigenic Escherichia Coli O145. Some Escherichia coli strains have developed the ability to cause disease of the gastrointestinal, urinary, or central nervous system in even very healthy people. They may produce various kinds of diarrhea and the hemolytic uremic syndrome - HUS. These types of E. coli emit shiga-like toxins that attack a person's red blood cells, causing kidney failure, stroke, seizures, anemia, heart attacks and damage to the central nervous system. Image width: 13.5 micrometers. Magnification: 7,400x if printed 10 cm wide.