What is E. coli?

I believe we have all heard of the name of Escherichia coli. It is a microorganism and has always been one of the very important flora in the intestine. It also plays a very important role in the human body. Let me introduce it below.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is commonly known as E. coli. It was discovered in 1885 and for a long time was considered a non-pathogenic bacterium as part of the normal intestinal flora.

Escherichia coli is the main bacterium and the most numerous intestinal tract of humans and animals. It has flagella all over its body, can move, and has no spores. Mainly living with colorectal cancer.

1. Escherichia coli is a bacterium and a prokaryotic organism. It has a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan and contains only simple organelles such as ribosomes. It has no nucleus but a pseudo-nucleus. The plasmids in the cytoplasm are often used as carriers in genetic engineering.

2. The metabolic type of Escherichia coli is heterotrophic and facultative anaerobic.

3. The relationship between the human body and Escherichia coli: When it does not cause disease (under normal conditions), it can be considered a mutually beneficial symbiosis (this is the relationship generally considered in high school); when it causes disease, it can be considered a parasitism. ）

4. There is no need to add growth factors when culturing in the culture medium. When eosin-methylene blue is added to the culture medium and meets Escherichia coli, the colonies will appear dark purple with a metallic luster, which can be used to identify whether Escherichia coli is present.

5. Application of Escherichia coli in biotechnology: As a host for the expression of exogenous genes, Escherichia coli has a clear genetic background, simple technical operations, simple culture conditions, and economical large-scale fermentation, and is highly valued by genetic engineering experts. Currently, Escherichia coli is the most widely used and successful expression system, and is often the preferred system for efficient expression.

6. The position of E. coli in the ecosystem: If it lives in the large intestine, it is a consumer; if it lives outside the body, it is a decomposer.