What Does the E. Coli Bacteria Need to Survive?

E. coli bacteria are common organisms found everywhere, including the intestines of humans and animals, where they survive off the food that people consume. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, and some even fight off pathogenic bacteria. They also synthesize vitamins, which not only benefit them, but also benefit the animals whose intestines they inhabit. However, some strains of E. coli, especially E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe health problems, and can even lead to kidney failure and death.

DNA

• Bacteria are very simplistic, so they can often change and develop new characteristics. For example, bacteria can absorb genetic codes from viruses and use these codes to engage in different forms of behavior. Therefore, the survival methods of E. coli can vary depending on the strain. E coli can preserve their DNA by transferring DNA code to other bacteria through various methods. For example, some E. coli can form bridges between themselves and other bacterium, through which single stranded plasmid DNA travels.

Transmission

• E. coli will live on organic matter, including hamburger meat. This requires that people cook hamburger to kill off the E. coli to avoid ingesting pathogenic strains of this bacteria. E. coli bacteria sometimes survive when people do not cook the meat enough, causing the bacteria to potentially infect the intestines. The meat must contain at least 10 E. coli cells to infect someone. Some E. coli bacteria get deep inside hamburger meat when a knife cuts into the meat, pushing bacteria down. Ground meat poses an even greater risk, since the E. coli bacteria are mixed evenly throughout the meat. The bacteria can get on kitchen surfaces, human hands and kitchen implements, allowing people to transfer these bacteria to previously uncontaminated surfaces.

Infection

• E. coli bacteria also live on feces. When feces, usually animal feces, contaminate fruits and vegetables, they can spread the E. coli to the produce. People who consume the E. coli can get sick, depending on the strain. E. coli have structures designed specifically for invading other cells, which are called bacterial invasins. When people have pathogenic E. coli infections in their intestines, they sometimes use antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Unfortunately, these bacteria can develop a resistance to antibiotics, creating more-resistant strains of the species such as E. coli O157:H7.

Hardiness

• E. coli are very hardy bacteria that adapt to their conditions. It can gradually adapt to very acidic conditions, survives without food or moisture and often survives freezing, which is why people must thoroughly cook raw, frozen meat. However, it cannot survive temperatures exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Protective Layer

• E. coli can survive phagocytic engulfment due to properties on their cell walls that protect them. They also have acidic polysaccharides that protect them. Lysozymes can produce lytic substances that can destroy many bacteria, but E. coli can create a peptidoglycan layer that protects it.