Open AccessMolecular genetic and phenotypic alteration of Escherichia coli in natural water microcosms containing toxic chemicals
Author(s) -
Palmer L.M.,
Baya A.M.,
Grimes D.J.,
Colwell R.R.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb00205.x
Subject(s) - microcosm , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , plasmid , ecotoxicology , subculture (biology) , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Microcosms of sterile Chesapeake Bay water were used to study effects of sub‐lethal concentrations (1 μl/l) of nitrobenzene, m ‐cresol, and dibutyl phthalate on Escherichia coli H10407. E. coli remained viable during the 19‐day test period in estuarine water, both in the presence and absence of the chemicals, long after it became non‐culturable. Analysis of membrane proteins revealed changes in the protein composition. Carbohydrate and amino acid utilization was affected by these changes. Plasmids in E. coli H10407 could not be detected following microcosm exposure. When the cells were transferred to rich medium without toxic chemicals, growth resumed and plasmid bands were again detectable.