Laboratory-Dependent Bacterial Ecology: a Cautionary Tale

Although laboratory dependence is an acknowledged problem in microbiology, it is seldom intensively studied or discussed. We demonstrate that laboratory dependence is real and quantifiable even in the popular model Escherichia coli. Here laboratory effects alter the equilibrium composition of a simp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2006-04, Vol.72 (4), p.3032-3035
Main Authors: O'Keefe, K. J, Morales, N. M, Ernstberger, H, Benoit, G, Turner, P. E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Bacteriological Techniques
Biological and medical sciences
Culture Media - chemistry
E coli
Ecosystem
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - classification
Escherichia coli - growth & development
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Laboratories
Microbial Ecology
Microbiology
Water
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Although laboratory dependence is an acknowledged problem in microbiology, it is seldom intensively studied or discussed. We demonstrate that laboratory dependence is real and quantifiable even in the popular model Escherichia coli. Here laboratory effects alter the equilibrium composition of a simple community composed of two strains of E. coli. Our data rule out changes in the bacterial strains, chemical batches, and human handling but implicate differences in growth medium, especially the water component.
ISSN:0099-2240
1098-5336
DOI:10.1128/AEM.72.4.3032-3035.2006