Microbiology- SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Microbiology- SLP - Essay Example Both Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are bacteria; however, Escherichia coli are gram-negative bacteria and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are gram-positive bacteria. Escherichia coli are gram-negative bacteria, which inhabit the intestines of healthy animals and humans (Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2000). Majority of the Escherichia coli serotypes are not pathogenic; however, those that lead to diseases are grouped and classified based on their pathogenic mechanisms. Presently, there are six Escherichia coli pathotypes known to cause diarrhea in human beings, and they include enteroinvasive E. coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) (shiga toxin-producing E. coli [STEC]), enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC), diffusing adhering E. coli, and enteroaggregative E. coli (Naicker, Olaniran, and Pillay, 2011). However, pathotypes of E. coli such as ETEC and STEC are potent pathogens linked with mortality and waterborne disease outbreaks in humans (Naicker, Olaniran, and Pillay, 2011). On the other hand, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus is a gram-positive bacterium, and it is closely associated to L. acidophilus, L. acetotolerans, L. amylophilus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus, and L. amylovorus. The ratio of GC content in L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is higher (49-51 percent) than the other species (34 – 46 percent) in this phylogenetic tree (The Regents of the University of California, 2012). The structure of both Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are the same. Both bacteria are rod shaped, and they are non-spore forming. However, there are differences that distinguish Escherichia coli from Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Escherichia coli are non-spore forming rod bacteria. Most of the strains possess peritrichous flagella, fimbriate and motile. A capsule in the form of mucoid is usually