Changes in the properties of E. coli under the influence of water environments

Summary

Five to twenty hours after transfering E. coli to water marked changes in their morphology and physiological properties occur. First, the shrinking of the cell and the reduction of cytoplasmatic content (distilled, surface water) or damage to the integrity of the cell (mineral medium) is observed. The formation of granules (ribosomal proteins?) and the separation of the cell wall from the cytoplasmatic membrane are observable.

The respiration and dehydrogenase activity of the cells decreases immediately in water environments. Lowering of activity corresponds with the mineral content of water. Many changes are also observed in the biochemical activity of the cells (utilization of citrate as a sole carbon source, sucrose-splitting, H₂S formation, gelatine-liquefying, negative methyl-red-test etc). The fermentation of glucose at 37 °C and 43 °C, the formation of indol and Voges-Proskauer reaction in 18 experiments (1971—73) was never changed.