Analysis Of Escherichia Coli (E. coli) For Antimicrobial Resistance Genes
Hetvi .B. Patel
Harper College
ABSTRACT This essay reviews a basic microbiological research project that focused on identifying pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) from the poultry industry in a developing country such as Romania. The research methodology, results and its practical applications are discussed. 51 isolates of E. coli were taken from various samples of raw poultry meat and tested for eleven specific antimicrobial resistance genes by using different techniques. Many antimicrobial resistant strains were isolated from the meat samples. These strains were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to identify the pathogenic DNA. It was further revealed that these E. coli had genes which produced proteins against many antimicrobials, making them resistant. Fortunately, the most pathogenic, Shiga-toxic gene was not detected in any of the E. coli found in poultry meat. This research was very important for Romania because it would help lay a foundation for future studies and research regarding poultry food safety and precaution in Romania.
Introduction E. coli usually resides in the intestines of humans and is beneficial to humans and animals. Most of the E. coli strains are not harmful, although some of the E. coli variants are pathogenic in nature and cause various intestinal problems (CDC, 2015). Meat usually contains bacteria,
Esherichia coli also known as E. coli is a bacterium that lives in your gut. (1). it was founded by Theodore von Esherich in 1888. There are many people that can get the bacteria. Also there are thousands of strands of E.coli. Six E. coli O157 outbreaks were identified during 2007. Four of the outbreaks involved foodborne transmission. (Eshericha Coli). Six Minnesota cases and one Wisconsin case with the same or closely-related PFGE subtype of E. coli O157:H7, and an additional Minnesota case of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli that was not culture-confirmed, attended the Minnesota State Fair in August. All but one of the cases showed cattle or visited the cattle
Escherichia coli are rod shaped, gram negative bacteria often found in the gut of humans and other warm-blooded mammals (Jacques & Ngo, 2004). It is transmitted primarily through faecal contaminated food and water. Most strains of E. coli are not harmful to humans, however some strains are pathogenic and can cause symptoms including diarrhoea (Unknown, 2012).
This experiment was designed to test and observe the transformation efficacy of the pUC18 and lux plasmids in making E. coli resistant to ampicillin. Both plasmids code for ampicillin resistance, however, the lux plasmid codes for a bioluminescence gene that is expressed if properly introduced into the bacteria’s genome. The E. coli cultures were mixed with a calcium chloride solution and then heat shocked, allowing the plasmids to enter the bacteria and assimilate into the bacterial DNA. The plasmids and the bacteria were then mixed in different test tubes and then evenly spread onto petri dishes using a bacterial spreader, heating the spreader between each sample to make sure there is no cross contamination. Each of the dishes was labeled and then incubated for a period of 24 hours. The results were rather odd because every single one of the samples grew. Several errors could have occurred here, cross contamination or possibly an error in preparation as every single sample in the class grew, meaning all samples of the bacteria transformed and became ampicillin resistant.
Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes 73,000 illnesses in the United States annually. A review of E. coli O157 outbreaks reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand its epidemiology. E. coli O157 outbreaks revealed that in that period, 49 states reported 350 outbreaks, representing 8,598 cases, 1,493 (17%) hospitalizations, 354 (4%) hemolytic uremic syndrome cases, and 40 (0.5%) deaths. Clinical laboratories began examining more stool specimens for E. coli O157. In 1994, E. coli O157 became a nationally notifiable infection, and by 2000, reporting was mandatory in 48 states. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a pathogen in 1982 during an outbreak investigation of hemorrhagic colitis.
“ ‘Fifteen years ago, almost all cases I had were E.coli linked to hamburger, and now I have maybe two or three.’ “ There is progress but Americans still need to work together to eliminate it
E. Coli is both a necessary bacteria in the human digestive tract and a very harmful toxin
Escherichia Coli, located in one of the main organs known as the large intestine, is a type of bacteria that helps digestion. (Trzepacz, Timmons, and Duobinis-Gray, 2016) For Escherichia Coli to remain stable and alive, it needs specific necessities. These needs are known as the following: Energy, vitamins, and similar compounds. Escherichia Coli is found everywhere!
For the seven interviews that the team conducted, three of the cases had eaten hamburger or ground beef, no cases had drunk raw milk, only one case had traveled outside Michigan, no restaurant or social event was identified in common, all of the cases had consumed lettuce, and six had eaten alfalfa sprouts. Appendix A shows the line listing of people who became ill with E.coli or E.coli symptoms from June 15 to July 15. Based on those findings no obvious linkages between patients were found. Appendix B shows the epidemic curve for this outbreak. The epidemic curve showed that the onset of illness among cases occurred from June to July with largest number occurring on June 22nd. Based on the appendix D, DNA fingerprinting
Foodborne illness, or food poisoning, happens everyday in the U.S. and it is estimated that 48 million people are affected by it every year. Of these 48 million, 128,000 end up in the hospital and 3000 of them die from foodborne pathogens (Tucker, 2014). Foodborne illnesses can be caused by biological, chemical, or physical contaminants. The biological contaminants consist of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Chemical contaminants are pesticides, cleaning supplies, and toxic chemicals. Physical contaminations are dirt, glass, wood, splinters, stones, hair, jewelry, and metal shavings (Tucker, 2014). Salmonella, a bacterium, has been the most common reported cause of food poisoning. Salmonella is most commonly exposed to humans through animal feces and it is usually from animals that give us beef, poultry, and dairy products. People who do not wash their hands after being around animals can also transmit salmonella into our food. The symptoms of Salmonella are abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever (Tucker, 2014). The symptoms will usually resolve on their own in healthy people but may become life threatening in those with compromised immune systems. In order to prevent Salmonellosis, raw eggs should be avoided, as well as undercooked meat, shellfish, and unpasteurized milk and juice (Tucker, 2014). It is also important to always practice hand hygiene before handling any uncooked food products. Escherichia Coli, otherwise known as E. coli, is
The orgimsms involved in Escherichia coli 0157 is an anaerobic bacterium which is shaped like a rod and is Gram-negative. Escherichia is a foodborne pathogen which causes a variety of disease in humans worldwide. Cattle are the reservoir to the diseases. Between 1% and 50% of healthy cattle carry or shed E.coli by means of their faeces. The cattle can also contract the infection after slaughter as conmtanation can occur during slaughter or while the beef is being proceed into products suitable for human consumption. In the United states the most common way of transmission of the disease is through consuming contaminated food and water. Although it is also frequently spread from person to person impartial in communities where there is a high concentration of children such as child care services and primary schools.
America is hungry, and someone has got to keep us fed. We live in a country with the luxury of convenience, so naturally hamburgers are as “American as apple pie” with the ease of picking them up at a drive-thru window, and ability to munch them one-handed, and the extreme affordability all factoring in to put them on most people’s favorite food list. Unfortunately for the burger lovers out there, these lunchtime staples are also harboring a hidden danger; a potentially deadly food borne pathogen named Escherichia coli that’s been making headlines more frequently as of late. Escherichia coli, or E. coli for short, are most commonly found in ground beef. It is naturally present in the bovine gastrointestinal system, the mutated strain,
E. coli are usually harmless, but can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illnesses and other illnesses. This bacterium is also beneficial to humans and are part of our natural intestinal microflora, but E. coli can also lead to mild to serious illnesses in the human body. Disease causing E. coli are grouped according to the ways they cause illnesses. Escherichia coli is spread when people consume at-risk foods, these include foods such as undercooked ground beef, produce that have come into contact with fecal matter, contaminated water and unpasteurized dairy and juice products. This bacterium can also spread from person to person by unwashed hands, contaminated surfaces (fomites) and pond water.
Most e coli do not affect people and actually are a very important part of keeping people healthy especially in the intestinal tract. Although there are some e coli that are pathogenic this means that they cause illness this is done either by giving people diarrhoea or illness that is outside the intestinal tract. These types of e coli that cause diarrhoea are usually transmitted through contaminated water ,food, or contact with animals or persons. E coli kill people by causing dehydration from diarrhoea and vomiting. E coli are considered gram negative bacteria. Colonies of e coli are circular in shape as well as having an entire margin it is also raised and size is considered punctiform (small). The texture of the colony is also smooth and the appearance is shiny and is no pigmented (colourless) as well as being
Escherichia coli are commonly found in lower intestine of warm blooded animals. Most E. coli are harmless. The bacteria can be grown easily and its genetics are relatively simple and easy to study, making it the best-studied prokaryotic organism. Certain strains of E. coli can produce toxins that can cause food poisoning when eating unwashed vegetables. (Wikipedia, 2010)
According to Ronnie Cummings of In Motion Magazine, after several dozen consumers in Colorado were poisoned by E-coli feces in their burgers, 25 million pounds of hamburger meat had to be recalled from the Hudson Foods Corporation. Much of the E. coli found in meat appears to be a product of feedlot life of cattle getting a feedlot diet and living in their own manure. The feedlot lifestyle is a common practice of corporate manufactured meat.