escherichia coli

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a petri dish containing Escherichia coli under a lab light.

Definition

Noun: * A species of bacterium: Escherichia coli is a rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains are harmless and are a normal part of the gut flora, but some strains can cause serious food poisoning and infections.

Usage and Examples

• Scientific/Medical Context: Used to refer to the bacterium itself, often in discussions of microbiology, public health, or medicine.
  • The laboratory test confirmed the presence of Escherichia coli in the water sample.
  • Most Escherichia coli strains are benign and aid in digestion.
• Public Health/Food Safety Context: Used when discussing contamination, outbreaks, or safety standards.
  • An outbreak of pathogenic Escherichia coli was linked to the contaminated lettuce.
  • Food processors must test for Escherichia coli to ensure safety.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term is often abbreviated as E. coli in both scientific and common usage.
• It is typically treated as a singular noun (e.g., is a bacterium).
• When referring to multiple distinct types or strains, it can be used in a plural sense (e.g., ), though "strains of " is more common.

Variants and Related Words

• E. coli (n.): The standard abbreviation for .
  • The news reported an E. coli outbreak.
• Coliform (adj./n.): A broader class of bacteria used as an indicator of sanitary quality, of which is a key member.
  • Coliform counts are used to assess water purity.

Synonyms and Related Terms

• Enteric bacterium: A bacterium that lives in the intestines.
• Enterobacteriaceae: The family of bacteria to which belongs.
• Pathogen: A microorganism that can cause disease. (This applies only to the harmful strains of ).

Common Phrases and Collocations

• E. coli infection: An illness caused by pathogenic strains.
• E. coli bacteria: A common phrasing to specify the organism type.
• E. coli strain: A specific genetic variant or type of the bacterium (e.g., O157:H7).
• Test for E. coli: To analyze a sample for its presence.
• Contaminated with E. coli: Containing the bacterium, especially harmful strains.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a species of bacterium normally present in intestinal tract of humans and other animals; sometimes pathogenic; can be a threat to food safety

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Escherichia coli
• E. coli