Escherichia coli

Classification

Escherichia coli(E. coli)belongs to Proteobactereia Phylum, Class of Gamma Proteobacteria, Order of Enterobacteriales, Family of Enterobacteriaceae, Genus of Escherichia, Species of coli

Description and Significance

E. coli was first discovered in 1885 by Theodor Escherich, a German bacteriologist. E. coli then had have been used commonly for biological lab experiment and research.

Genome structure

E. coli has only one chromosome, some along with an extra piece of circular plasmid. Its chromosomal DNA has been completely sequenced by lab researchers. It is well known of its proerty of gene recombinant, which is widely used as a method for further biological research.

Cell Structure and Metabolism

E. coli is a membrane bounded organism. Even though it has extremely simple cell structure, with only one chromosomal DNA and a plasmid, it can proform complicated metabolism to maintain its cell growth and cell division.

Ecology

Pathology

E. coli can cause several infections onto most animals, such as humans, sheep, horses, dogs, etc. The one that only found in humans is called enteroaggregative E. coli. Urinary tract infection, for example, can be caused by ascending infections of urethra. Such infection can be found in both adult male and female, and some of infants can be infected as well.

Application to Biotechnology

E. coli plays an important role in current biological engineering because of its manipulation and long laboratory history. It has been widely used to synthesize DNA and proteins. Most results from E. coli research can be applied to animals and human. The most useful contribution of recombinant DNA from E. coli is to use the manipulation of E. coli to produce human insuling for diabetes patients.

Current Research

References

European Journal of Biochemistry. By Federation of European Biochemical Societies. 2004

Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli#Strains>