Introduction of E. coli
Table of Contents
Escherichia coli is a member of the family, Enterobacteriaceae and it is a Gram-negative, aerobe, and facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. The optimal temperature for growth is 36-37°C with most strains growing over the range 18-44 °C. It is a commensal that is found inhabiting the lower intestine of our body. A small proportion of E. coli strains are pathogenic. The harmless strains produce vitamin K and prevent the colonization of the intestine by pathogenic bacteria. It is classified into serotypes based on cell wall (O), capsular (K), fimbria (F), and flagellar (H) antigens. e.g. E. coli O157:H7
Pathogenic strains
- Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)
- Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC )
- Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
- Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)
- Enteroaggregative E. coli ((EAEC))
Identification Features of E. coli

Basic Features | Properties |
1. Gram Staining | Gram-Negative Rods (GNRs) |
2. Spore | Non-Sporing |
3. Capsule | Capsulated (many isolates) |
4. Motility | Motile |
5. Pigment | Negative |
6. Growth in potassium cyanide (KCN) medium | Negative |
7. Catalase test | Positive |
8. Oxidase test | Negative |
9. Nitrate reduction test | Positive |
10. MR (Methyl Red) test | Positive |
11. VP (Voges- Proskauer) assay | Negative |
12. OF (Oxidative-Fermentative) test | Fermentative |
13. Gas from Glucose | Positive |
14. H2S production | Negative |
15. Indole formation | Positive |
16. Urease/ urea hydrolysis test | Negative |
17. Citrate/ citrate utilization | Negative |
18. DNase test | Negative |
19. Glucose fermentation | Positive |
20. Maltose fermentation | Positive |
21. Lactose fermentation | Positive |
22. Sucrose fermentation | Negative |
23. Xylose fermentation | Positive |
24. Mannitol fermentation | Variable |
25. Acetate Utilization | Positive |
26. ONPG (β-galactosidase) | Positive |
27. Phenylalanine Deaminase (PDA)/PPA Test | Negative |
28. Lipase test | Negative |
29. Esculin Hydrolysis test | Variable |
30. Lysine Decarboxylase Test | Positive |
31. Ornithine Decarboxylase Test | Variable |
32. Arginine Dihydrolase Test | Negative |
Escherichia coli Footages
Gram negative rods (GNRs) of Escherichia coli in Gram staining of culture

E. coli growth on MacConkey medium

E. coli colony morphology on blood agar

E. coli Colony Characteristics on Chocolate Agar

Indole positive Escherichia coli in MIU medium

Indole positive Escherichia coli in peptone water

Escherichia coli metallic green sheen on eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar demonstration

Sorbitol MacConkey Agar (SMAC) expressing sorbitol fermenting colony of Escherichia coli and the non-sorbitol fermenting colony of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli on CLED agar

Further Readings
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B97801241584670000
- https://universe84a.com/sorbitol-macconkey-agar-smac-introduction/
- Cowan & Steel’s Manual for identification of Medical Bacteria. Editors: G.I. Barron & R.K. Felthani, 3rd ed 1993, Publisher Cambridge University Press.
- Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology. Editors: Bettey A. Forbes, Daniel F. Sahm & Alice S. Weissfeld, 12th ed 2007, Publisher Elsevier.
- Mackie and Mc Cartney Practical Medical Microbiology. Editors: J.G. Colle, A.G. Fraser, B.P. Marmion, A. Simmous, 4th ed, Publisher Churchill Living Stone, New York, Melborne, Sans Franscisco 1996.
- Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. Editors: Connie R. Mahon, Donald G. Lehman & George Manuselis, 3rd edition2007, Publisher Elsevier.
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