Research Article | Open Access

Bacterial Persistence in Aquatic Environments: A Study of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Escherichia coli in Laboratory Microcosms

    Kumkum Rahman Mouree

    Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

    Md. Fakruddin

    Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh

    Md. Asaduzzaman Shishir

    Department of Microbiology, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh

    Nafisa Azmuda

    Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar 1342, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Humaira Akhtar

    Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh


Received
02 Apr, 2023
Accepted
30 Aug, 2023
Published
02 Sep, 2023

Background and Objective: In-depth knowledge of survival potential and survival patterns of wild-type and genetically engineered E. coli in aquatic systems is scarce. The study was designed to investigate the relative persistence and survival of transformed E. coli DH5α and environmental isolates. Materials and Methods: Three different types of microcosms were set up and inoculated with GFP-transformed E. coli. Samples were collected at regular intervals and the survival and growth of the organisms were monitored by viable counts using GFP as a cellular marker. Survival curves were prepared to visualize bacterial persistence trends over time. Results: The obtained results suggested different survival patterns of E. coli in different microcosms. The survival of E. coli in filter-sterilized water samples was found greater than that in untreated water. A sharp decrease in the count of E. coli cells in untreated water, compared to that of filter-treated and/or autoclaved water suggests that the survival of E. coli in natural water might be limited due to deprivation of nutrients or biological interactions, such as competition and predation. Conclusion: Transformation of GFP in E. coli did not show a significant effect on the persistence in the laboratory microcosm underscoring the potential utility of GFP-tagged E. coli as a model organism for studying bacterial survival and distribution dynamics.

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APA-7 Style
Mouree, K.R., Fakruddin, M., Shishir, M.A., Azmuda, N., Akhtar, H. (2023). Bacterial Persistence in Aquatic Environments: A Study of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Escherichia coli in Laboratory Microcosms. Research Journal of Microbiology, 18(1), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjm.2023.63.71

ACS Style
Mouree, K.R.; Fakruddin, M.; Shishir, M.A.; Azmuda, N.; Akhtar, H. Bacterial Persistence in Aquatic Environments: A Study of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Escherichia coli in Laboratory Microcosms. Res. J. Microbiol 2023, 18, 63-71. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjm.2023.63.71

AMA Style
Mouree KR, Fakruddin M, Shishir MA, Azmuda N, Akhtar H. Bacterial Persistence in Aquatic Environments: A Study of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Escherichia coli in Laboratory Microcosms. Research Journal of Microbiology. 2023; 18(1): 63-71. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjm.2023.63.71

Chicago/Turabian Style
Mouree, Kumkum , Rahman, Md. Fakruddin, Md. Asaduzzaman Shishir, Nafisa Azmuda, and Humaira Akhtar. 2023. "Bacterial Persistence in Aquatic Environments: A Study of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Escherichia coli in Laboratory Microcosms" Research Journal of Microbiology 18, no. 1: 63-71. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjm.2023.63.71