E.

Coli & Its Ability to Adapt and Colonize Certain Types of Plants
Lindsey Delmas
Conner Lane
Christopher Hess

Introduction to E. Coli Research

The context of our research is determine if certain plants drive the adaptation and
colonization of E. Coli. Through this research we hope to determine the significance of what
plants E. Coli has a stronger inclination to colonize by exposing the bacteria to antibodies of the
plant through the plants smashed product, such as fruit and vegetables. This, in turn, will allow
crop growers to potentially modify their plants to protect them from the bacteria.
Through a similar experiment done by the Purdue University, they exposed radish and
lettuce plants to E. Coli via water or fertilizer to see the bacterias survival rate comparative to
the bulk soil, rhizosphere, or phyllosphere. These results showed that the E. Coli thrived in the
rhizosphere (narrow region of soil thats affected by root secretion) of the plants like other
bacteria and only infected the phyllosphere after several days of growth, but upon adding the
bacteria through irrigation systems it showed lower levels of growth at the phyllosphere. Overall,
this experiment provides information that E. Coli is mobile throughout the plants system due to
the bacterias ability to thrive more in the rhizosphere, where the plants roots grow and develop.
(Habteselassie et al 2010) Right now E. Coli is just known for its ability to adapt to an
environment, therefore, making an individual, or in terms of our research, a plant, very sick. With
our research we hope to potentially discover which types of plants are more susceptible to E.
Coli colonization. This, would then allow researchers to further their observations and hopefully,
come up with a cure (fertilizer, modifier, etc) that could prevent plants from being destroyed
and taken over by this bacteria.

Research Questions & Hypotheses

We, as students, are curious- Does E. Coli have the ability to adapt and eventually
colonize any food that it inhabits? Through this study, we hypothesize that E. Coli will be more
inclined to colonize plants that have a higher sugar content. Our predictions include E. Coli

colonizing the sweeter of our samples and E. Coli having difficulty adapting to the content of our
less sugary samples as well as our citrus sample.

Experimental approach
The study will be conducted under controlled conditions at standard room temperature
and pressure at UNCC's Woodward hall. First, we will begin by acquiring a slice of watermelon
to represent our sweet fruit, an orange to represent the citrus, a potato, and lettuce from a local
grocer, assuring that these have been properly cleaned and free of any bacteria. Before
beginning the experiment, we will have each sample under the microscope to record its current
state. We will record this in terms of healthiness and overall appearance. Given that the
samples will not have been exposed to the bacteria, they will all begin with a very healthy
record as well as an excellent for overall appearance. We will then use agar coated petri
dishes from the UNCC Biology Department and a small sample of E. Coli. From there we will
apply the E. coli on to our five samples using a sterile swab, allowing them to grow and mature
for 24 hours. After applying the E. Coli to the samples we will return to the lab every other day to
record and analyze any new growth/colonization. This requires the use of a microscope and
small sliver of the fruit. After collecting this data for two weeks time we will collect the data and
conclude which sample was colonized by E. Coli the most, and from there will put the samples
in descending order of colonization . This will then allow us to either prove or disprove our
hypothesis of E. Coli being most attracted to the sample of higher glucose content.
Our variables include an independent, dependent, and control group. The independent
variable, which is the variable stands on its own, is the time allowed for growth. Our dependent
variable is how much the E. Coli colonizes/grows on the samples. Lastly, our control group is a
sample of the bacteria, on a sterile swab, in the petri dish on its own.
Anticipated results
In our opinion the data will show that E coli colonize quicker and grow faster on the
sweeter fruits, such as the watermelon, and will have more difficulty colonizing with the orange
mixture due to the high acidic pH. Likewise, a similar experiment was conducted to test produce
safety where they wanted see if E.Coli growth would differ based on certain pathogens that
were introduced. Through the experiment they notice that Wausteria paucula would enhance the
survival of E.Coli on lettuce foliage, yet with Enterobacter asburiae the survival of E.Coli would

decrease. Overall, the results prove with good agricultural practices, which encourage bacterial
competition, produce contamination may decrease. (Cooley 2006)
E coli like many bacteria reproduce at an extreme rate due to the simpleness of their
genes and the lack of organelles. E coli is unique however in that as long as its DNA has been
replicated and is finished enough to be split it can effectively begin a second round of mitosis
before the first is even complete. This allows for everyone e coli that enters mitosis for 3 or more
to come out and immediately turn around and begin mitosis again. (Grant 2006)
Summary and Anticipated challenges
The reason for this research is to determine which commonly consumed produce items
can fall susceptible to this common bacteria. This can benefit science as a whole because
research can then be taken one step further, in terms of determining a way for these common
consumables to reject the E. coli in its future attempt to colonize.
From this study we anticipate to prove how plants antibodies can help fight against
bacteria growth within different plants. As the research is gained we hope to prove which plants
E. coli is more likely to colonize based on sugar content and ideal environment. From there we
can focus on certain produce that may require extra lines of defense in order to avoid being
highly colonized by the bacteria. For example, the recent Chipotle outbreak.
A problem we foresee will be the ability of all three group members to have access to the
lab at the same time every other day. There will likely be scheduling conflicts which will later be
solved once we lay out a game plan in terms of the trial week and actual experiment week.
Another problem that we are faced with is the fact that none of us, being freshman, have
performed an in depth microbiology experiment such as this one. We arent fully educated on
procedures, however we have done a plethora of research to broaden our horizons in the field
of microbiology and its components. Due to the fact that we havent conducted a microbiology
lab before, the problem of contamination has come to mind. We will conduct a trial experiment
to map out any issues we foresee occurring in the actual experimental week, and we will take
note of and resolve any problems forehand.

Works Cited

Habteselassie, Mussie Y., Marianne Bischoff, Bruce Applegate, Bradley Reuhs, and
Ronald F. Turc. "E. Coli Thrives near Plant Roots, Can Contaminate Young Produce Crops."
University New Service. Purdue, 03 Nov. 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.
Cooley, Michael B., Diana Chao, and Robert E. Mandrell. "Escherichia Coli O157:H7
Survival and Growth on Lettuce Is Altered by the Presence of Epiphytic Bacteria." Journal of
Food Protection. International Association for Food Protection, Oct. 2006. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2006/00000069/00000010/art00002>.
Grant, Mathew. "The Stochastic Scientist." : How E. Coli Grows so Fast. University of
Cambridge, 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.