Analysis of Escherichia coli growth and Phage-Infected Escherichia coli Growth

by Katherine Rattanachane

Submitted : Spring 2014

A sample of Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 bacteria was cultured in an LB broth at 37 degrees C and an optical density (OD) reading at 600 nm was taken every 30 minutes for 6 hours to observe its growth. The OD readings were recorded and plotted to create a growth curve. Using calculus, an equation of the growth curve was established and analyzed.

A comparative analysis was then done to compare the growth of normal Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 bacteria and T7 phage infected E. coli K12. Both were grown on an LB agar plate medium and the number of bacteria was collected in 15 minute intervals for a total of six hours; the data was then used to create a growth curve for both the normal E. coli and the phage infected E. coli. After comparing the two lifespans it was concluded that phage infected E. coli has a shorter life span due to perhaps the lytic activity of the bacteriophage of which it is infected with whereas the normal E. coli grew exponentially as speculated before reaching the lag phase.

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