Benefits of E. Coli Outside of the Body Term Paper

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Ecoli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is notorious for its adverse effects on the human body. A bacterium that normally lives in the stomach, some strains of E. coli can cause illness such as diarrhea. The strains most harmful to human beings include E. coli O157:H7 (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Food and water contaminated with these harmful strains of E. coli are usually the means by which the bacteria is transmitted; adults usually recover but some patients with weakened immune systems including the elderly and children may die from an E. coli infection (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Therefore, it is important to understand the role and various manifestations of the E. coli family of bacteria. Less is known about the potential benefits of E. coli. Some strains of E. coli are touted as beneficial intestinal flora, much like probiotics such as acidophilus. For example, Ruud (2001) notes that the health benefits of the Nissle strain of E. coli include a stimulation of the immune system, a reduction in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, a reduction in ulcerative colitis, and a reduction of inflammatory bowel disorder. In addition to these potential health benefits, E. coli may also combat Crohn's disease as well as celiac disease (Ruud, 2011).

E. coli is used to create indigo because the bacteria plays host for the proteins used to create it. E. coli JA300 and its cyclohexane-resistant mutant, OST3410 were found to carry the genes that produce indole and its by-product indigo (Douky, Toyoda & Aono, 2002). Lee & Lee (2003) call E. coli a "model organism for the expression of heterologous proteins," and "an ideal organism for testing new analytical technologies because of the extensive knowledge base available about the organism," (p. 801). Research on E.

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coli has "facilitated the construction of more accurate 2DE maps," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801).

One of the reasons E. coli has multiple uses in the laboratory is because of its "complex cellular responses," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). E. coli is used commonly in the biotechnology industry and the bacteria family as a wide range of applications both within healthcare applications but also in alternative energy. Many of the strains of E. coli used in biotechnology and other scientific research applications have been genetically modified ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). Six specific genes of E. coli have been isolated to create a super bacterium that is basically a "mini hydrogen-producing factory that's powered by sugar," ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). A better understanding of how E. coli works can lead to "better control of heterologous protein expression," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). E. coli may also be useful in developing "emerging proteomic techniques," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). A "new version of the bacterium" has also been discovered, one that "produces up to 100 times more succinate, a high-demand chemical feedstock that's used to make everything from noncorrosive airport deicers and nontoxic solvents to plastics, drugs and food additives," ("E. coli Has Its Benefits -- Rice University Scientist Honored for Research Converting Glycerine Into High Value Products," 2010).

Tweaking the E. coli strain and modifying it for science has led to potentially fruitful discoveries. One such discovery is….....

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