The E-Coli Bacillus

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the e-coli bacillus is a microbe about which much is known but has defied efforts to stamp out its unpleasant impact upon human health. The author points out that these extraordinarily tiny cells are invisible to the naked human eye and can accumulate in vast quantities in food preparation areas without individuals being aware of them. The paper relates that e-coli cells are prokaryotic and distinguished by a single, circular chromosome; such cells also contain DNA as plasmids. The author states that, in simple cases of e-coli poisoning, rehydration is essential; however, there is no evidence that antibiotics improve the course of the disease and/or expedite recovery and anti-diarrheal agents are strongly discouraged. The paper concludes that this tiny "bug" certainly seems resilient enough to cause human beings misery for some time to come.

From the Paper:

"The living environment and the reproductive process of the e-coli cell are also interesting. Simply put, e-coli most commonly flourish in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. In terms of reproduction, the process is simply one of binary fission, with the circular DNA chromosome replicated. The cell splits into two identical cells with each cell having the same DNA; it should be pointed out that, during the fission process, the identical chromosomal material attaches itself to different parts of the cell membrane so that "replicate" material is firmly anchored where it needs to be when the cell begins to pull apart and halve."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brown, John C. "Bugs in the News: What the Heck is e-coli?" 16 Sept. 1997. University of Kansas. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://people.ku.edu/~jbrown/ecoli.html>
• Canadian Water Quality Association. "CWQA Position Statement: Bacteria." CWQA: Canadian Water Quality Association. 2006. CWQA. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://www.cwqa.com/industry_issues/bacteria.php>
• "Cell Structure of Prokaryotes [bacteria] and Eukaryotes [higher organisms]." BL/CH401 Lecture 2 - Cell Structure and Biochemistry. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://www.bio.mtu.edu/campbell/401lec2a.pdf>
• Early, P.J. "E-Coli Outbreaks Becoming More Common in US." HealthLink: Medical College of Wisconsin. 2003. Medical College of Wisconsin. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002172.html>
• Home & Garden Information Center. "E-Coli." Clemson Extension. N.d. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3700.htm>

More papers on The E-Coli Bacillus:

• Analytical Essay # 132338 : "Examining E. Coli"
• Essay # 27199 : "Flagella of Salmonella and E.coli"
• Term Paper # 148594 : "E. Coli and Filamentous Morphology"

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