Sigma factor expression in E. coli environmental isolates

Water quality is critical for a many human activities. With respect to recreational water,

a particular type of water source, there are often relatively high levels of microbial

contamination in relation to other types of water sources (e.g., drinking water). E. coli

is used as a microbial indicator for water quality because E. coli accumulation is

positively correlated with fecal contamination. It is recognized that this current

approach, however, is not fully protective of the health of the public using beaches. E.

coli strains differ enormously in pathogenic potential as only few strains carrying

disease-causing genetic determinants (e.g., strain O157:H7). This study will be taken

place to examine the differences in genetic composition and gene expression between

E. coli laboratory strain and environmental strains. Well-understood sigma factor

genes will be employed as model genes to operate this study.

Faculty Supervisor:

Herb Schellhorn

Student:

Partner:

Environment Canada (Burlington, ON)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

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