FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

APPLIED BIOSCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

NAME AUBREY. TAWANDA

SURNAME MUJEYE

REG NUMBER R186422V

PROGRAM APPLIED BIOSCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

LEVEL 2.1

MODULE HABB 202 BACTERIOLOGY

LECTURER MS MGUNI

ASSIGNMENT: Essay on Enterobacteriaceae

The family Enterobacteriaceae is one of the most important bacterial families. The
phylogenetic position of the family Enterobacteriaceae is in the gamma subclass of

Proteobacteria, a subclass also known as the ‘purple bacteria’The figures show that the closest

relatives of Enterobacteriaceae are the families Alteromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae,

Aeromonadaceae, and Pasteurellaceae.It includes the plague bacillus Yersinia pestis and the
typhoid bacillus Salmonella serotype Typhi (Salmonella typhi) which are two of the most
important bacterial pathogens in human history. It also includes two genera of intrinsic enteric
pathogens Shigella and Salmonella; essentially all strains in these two genera can cause
diarrhoea or intestinal infections. Two other genera, Escherichia (Gamage et al. 2003;
Misselwitz et al. 2003; Naimi et al. 2003; Riley et al. 1983; Vallance et al. 2002) and Yersinia,
also include enteric pathogens; however, only a few of the many serotypes (strains) have the
virulence factors that enable them to infect the intestinal tract or allow them to colonize it and
produce enterotoxins. Many other species have an association with diarrhoea (Murata et al.
2001), but their causal role is uncertain.

Several other species of Enterobacteriaceae frequently cause extraintestinal human infections

(Diekema et al. 1999; Edmond et al. 1999; O’Hara et al. 2000a) and some have an association
with chronic diseases such as arthritis (Yu and Kuipers 2003). Many other species occasionally
cause infections or occur in human clinical specimens, and often it is difficult to determine
their clinical significance. Other genera and species do not cause disease or occur in human
clinical specimens, but can be confused with those species that do. The family also includes
plant and animal pathogens and a number of species that have been favorite subjects for studies
on genetics, physiology, metabolism, antibiotic resistance, ecology, epidemiology,
pathogenicity, virulence, and vaccines.

Enterobacteriaceae is a family of gram-negative, short straight rods bacteria, non-sporulating,

facultative anaerobes. They are of order Eubacteriales and they are distributed worldwide and
may be found in soil, water, plants, humans and animals. They are typically 1–5 μm in length
and about 0.25 to 1 micrometers, Gray, (2000). They typically appear as medium to large-sized
grey colonies on blood agar, although some can express pigments (such as Serratia
marcescens). Most members of Enterobacteriaceae have peritrichous, type I fimbriae involved
in the adhesion of the bacterial cells to their hosts. Do not have unusual cell structures or
produce spores; are motile by peritrichous flagella; grow on ordinary laboratory media
formulated with peptones or meat extracts. Most species grow well at 37°C, although some
species grow better at 25-30°C. They grow both aerobically and anaerobically; grow without
the addition of sodium chloride or other supplements; grow well on MacConkey agar; are
active biochemically, are catalase positive and oxidase negative; Some strains grow on D-
glucose as the sole source of carbon and energy, but other strains require vitamins and or amino
acids. Acid is produced during the fermentation of D- glucose and other carbohydrates, this
group of organisms includes several that cause primary infections of the human gastrointestinal
tract.

Some enterobacteria produce endotoxins. Endotoxins reside in the cell wall and are released
when the cell dies and the cell wall disintegrates. Some members of the Enterobacteriaceae
produce endotoxins that, when released into the bloodstream following cell lysis, cause a
systemic inflammatory and vasodilatory response. The most severe form of this is known as
endotoxin shock, which can be rapidly fatal. Abbott, (2007).

Escherichia coli live in the human gut and are usually harmless but some are pathogenic
causing diarrhoea and other symptoms as a result of ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), certain serotypes are commonly found associated with infant
diarrhoea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) produce diarrhoea resembling cholera but much
milder in degree. They also cause "travellers’ diarrhoea".

Shigella (4 species; S. flexneri, S. boydii, S. sonnei, S. dysenteriae), all cause bacillary

dysentery or shigellosis, (bloody faeces associated with intestinal pain). The organism invades
the epithelial lining layer but does not penetrate. Usually within 2 to 3 days, dysentery results
from bacteria damaging the epithelial layers lining the intestine, often with release of mucus
and blood (found in the faeces) and attraction of leukocytes (also found in the faeces as "pus").
However, watery diarrhoea is frequently observed with no evidence of dysentery. Shiga toxin
(chromosomally-encoded), which is neurotoxic, enterotoxin and cytotoxic, plays a role.

Salmonella infections most often cause vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes severe. In rare cases,
Salmonella illness can lead to severe and life-threatening bloodstream infections.
Salmonellosis, the common salmonella infection, is caused by a variety of serotypes (most
commonly S. enteritidis) and is transmitted from contaminated food (such as poultry and eggs).

Yersinia entercolitica - the organisms are invasive (usually without systemic spread). Typically
the infection is characterized by diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain. Y. entercolitica infections
are seen most often in young children. Y. enterocolitica can be transmitted by faecal
contamination of water or milk by domestic animals or from eating meat products.
Citrobacter species, there are 11 species of which 10 have been recovered from clinical
material. They may be found in the faeces of humans and animals as part of the normal flora
and grow readily on ordinary media. Cells are short rods arranged singly, in pairs, or in short
chains with rounded ends. Gray, (2000). They are motile with peritrichous flagella. Colonies
are generally grey, smooth and moist although mucoid or rough strains occur. Some strains of
They are positive for indole, catalase and nitrate reduction tests.

Plesiomonas shigelloides the genus Plesiomonas contains one specie, Plesiomonas

shigelloides. Cells are short Gram negative rods. They are generally 0.3 - 1.0µm in width, 0.6-
6.0µm in length, motile with lophotrichous polar flagella, non-spore-producing, and facultative
anaerobic. They are able to grow at salt concentrations of 0-5%, at a pH of 4.0-8.0, and at
temperatures of 8 - 44°C. Holt et al., (2001).

Proteus species there are four species of Proteus, of which three cause disease. Since it belongs
to the family of Enterobacteriaceae, general characteristics are applied on this genus. All strains
are motile. They may swarm on blood agar, producing concentric zones or an even film. On
MacConkey agar, colonies are colourless, flat, often swarm slightly and are 2-3mm in diameter
(this is specific to Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis). Abbott, (2007). They are also
oxidase negative but catalase and nitrate positive. Other specific tests are the urease (which is
an essential test to differentiate Proteus from Salmonella) and phenylalanine deaminase tests.
All strains are urease positive.

Providencia species. The genus Providencia was originally established for organisms similar
to Proteus species that were urease negative. There are eight species within the genus, of which
three cause disease. All species are motile. On blood agar and MacConkey agar, colonies are
colourless, flat, 2 - 3mm in diameter and do not swarm. Murray et al., (1999).

Serratia species the genus Serratia contains 15 species and three subspecies (but only two are
commonly isolated from clinical material). They are Serratia liquefaciens and Serratia
marcescens, the latter often producing a pigment called prodigiosin, which ranges in colour
from dark red to pale pink, depending on the age of the colonies when grown at 20°C. The
optimal growth temperature is 37°. They are facultative anaerobes. Most of the species are
motile and have peritrichous flagella. Cells are rod shaped and 0.5 - 0.8µm x 1.0 - 5.0µm in
diameter. They are positive for glucose and sucrose (with gas production) fermentation and
nitrate test; and negative for indole, urease and oxidase.
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