Influence of Exogenous Oxidative Stress on Escherichia Coli Cell Growth, Viability and Morphology

Abstract

The present study attempted to determine the influence of exogenous oxidative stress on the cell viability of Escherichia coli. In this regard, 3mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was added to the late log phase of E. coli culture, and afterwards the phenotype, cell morphology and the ability to form colony forming units (CFU) on agar plates were examined. As expected, a quick phenotypic suppression as well as a rapid decline in viable and culturable cell numbers was observed at the mid-stationary phase as compared to control. Interestingly, a large mass of cell aggregates was noticed upon addition of H2O2. Thus the current investigation corroborated the previous findings and further added to the existing knowledge on oxidative stress events in E. coli.