Benefits of E. Coli Outside of the Body

Ecoli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is notorious for its adverse effects on the human body. A bacterium that normally lives in the stomach, some strains of E. coli can cause illness such as diarrhea. The strains most harmful to human beings include E. coli O157:H7 (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Food and water contaminated with these harmful strains of E. coli are usually the means by which the bacteria is transmitted; adults usually recover but some patients with weakened immune systems including the elderly and children may die from an E. coli infection (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Therefore, it is important to understand the role and various manifestations of the E. coli family of bacteria. Less is known about the potential benefits of E. coli. Some strains of E. coli are touted as beneficial intestinal flora, much like probiotics such as acidophilus. For example, Ruud (2001) notes that the health benefits of the Nissle strain of E. coli include a stimulation of the immune system, a reduction in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, a reduction in ulcerative colitis, and a reduction of inflammatory bowel disorder. In addition to these potential health benefits, E. coli may also combat Crohn's disease as well as celiac disease (Ruud, 2011).

E. coli is used to create indigo because the bacteria plays host for the proteins used to create it. E. coli JA300 and its cyclohexane-resistant mutant, OST3410 were found to carry the genes that produce indole and its by-product indigo (Douky, Toyoda & Aono, 2002). Lee & Lee (2003) call E. coli a "model organism for the expression of heterologous proteins," and "an ideal organism for testing new analytical technologies because of the extensive knowledge base available about the organism," (p. 801). Research on E. coli has "facilitated the construction of more accurate 2DE maps," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801).

One of the reasons E. coli has multiple uses in the laboratory is because of its "complex cellular responses," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). E. coli is used commonly in the biotechnology industry and the bacteria family as a wide range of applications both within healthcare applications but also in alternative energy. Many of the strains of E. coli used in biotechnology and other scientific research applications have been genetically modified ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). Six specific genes of E. coli have been isolated to create a super bacterium that is basically a "mini hydrogen-producing factory that's powered by sugar," ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). A better understanding of how E. coli works can lead to "better control of heterologous protein expression," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). E. coli may also be useful in developing "emerging proteomic techniques," (Lee & Lee, 2003, p. 801). A "new version of the bacterium" has also been discovered, one that "produces up to 100 times more succinate, a high-demand chemical feedstock that's used to make everything from noncorrosive airport deicers and nontoxic solvents to plastics, drugs and food additives," ("E. coli Has Its Benefits -- Rice University Scientist Honored for Research Converting Glycerine Into High Value Products," 2010).

Tweaking the E. coli strain and modifying it for science has led to potentially fruitful discoveries. One such discovery is the possible use of E. coli in the production of naturally decaffeinated teas and coffees. Just as the use of E. coli to produce hydrogen depends on the genetic engineering of the organism, so too does the use of E. coli in natural decaffeination. As Ashihara & Crozier (2001) point out, "A gene from tea leaves encoding caffeine synthase, an N-methyltransferase that catalyses the last two steps of caffeine biosynthesis, has been cloned and the recombinant enzyme produced in E. coli," (p. 407).

For instance, a new strain of E. coli can produce "substantial amounts of hydrogen…140 times more hydrogen than is created in a naturally occurring process," ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). To make a bacteria produce an excessive amount of hydrogen might not seem like an important discovery but in fact, this research could be "a significant stepping stone on the path to the hydrogen-based economy that many believe is in this country's future," ("E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source of Energy?" 2008). This is because hydrogen fuel-cell technology offers a clean and renewable source of energy that mitigates the greenhouse effect while preventing economic collapse. Until the discovery that E. coli might be able to power home appliances, cars, and factories, hydrogen for fuel-cells had to be generated via expensive processes involving breaking down water molecules. E. coli may be the magic adjunct in biofuels.