Reactivation of chlorine-inactivated Escherichia coli

Effect of organotins on fecal pollution indicator organisms

Pure cultures of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis and environmental water samples were examined for the possibility that pollution involving organotin compounds could decrease the values for indicator organisms when standard methods were applied to the analysis of water samples. (CH3)2SnCl2 and (CH3)3SnCl decreased viable counts at about 10 to 100 mg of Sn liter-1 (8.4 X 10(-5) to 8.4 X 10(-4) mol of Sn liter-1), and tributyltin chloride was effective at about 0.1 to 1.0 mg of Sn liter-1 (8.4 X 10(-7) to 8.4 X 10(-6) mol of Sn liter-1. These concentrations, particularly for the methyltin compounds, are greater than the concentrations reported to date for these compounds in aquatic ecosystems. Thus, organotin compounds alone would not be likely to cause reductions in counts of indicator organisms measured by standard methods. However, it is suggested that, when combined with other environmental stressors or upon long exposure, organotins such as butyltins may contribute to the injury of indicator organisms.

Evidence for the role of copper in the injury process of coliform bacteria in drinking water

Low levels of copper in chlorine-free distribution water caused injury of coliform populations. Monitoring of 44 drinking water samples indicated that 64% of the coliform population was injured. Physical and chemical parameters were measured, including three heavy metals (Cu, Cd, and Pb). Copper concentrations were important, ranging from 0.007 to 0.54 mg/liter. Statistical analyses of these factors were used to develop a model to predict coliform injury. The model predicted almost 90% injury with a copper concentration near the mean observed value (0.158 mg/liter) in distribution waters. Laboratory studies with copper concentrations of 0.025 and 0.050 mg/liter in an inorganic carbon buffer under controlled conditions of temperature and pH caused over 90% injury within 6 and 2 days, respectively. Studies of the metabolism of injured Escherichia coli cells indicated that the respiratory chain is at least one site of damage in injured cells.

Chlorine injury and the enumeration of waterborne coliform bacteria

Injury induced in Escherichia coli cells by chlorination was studied from a physiological standpoint. Predictable and reproducible injury was found to occur rapidly in 0.5 mg of chlorine per liter and was reversible under nonselective conditions. There was an extended lag period in the growth of chlorinated cells not seen in control suspensions followed by the resumption of logarithmic growth at a rate equaling that of control cells. The aldolase activity of cells chlorinated in vivo was equivalent to that obtained for control cells. Oxygen uptake experiments showed that chlorinated cells underwent a decrease in respiration that was not immediatedly repaired in the presence of reducing agents. This effect was more pronouned in rich media containing reducing agents. Uptake of metabolities was inhibited by chlorine injury as shown with experiments using 14C-labeled glucose and algal protein hydrolysate.

Membrane filter technique for the quantification of stressed fecal coliforms in the aquatic environment

A two-layer membrane filtration (MF) medium (injury-mitigating MF [IM-MF]) and a procedure for the enumeration of injured fecal coliforms are described. These procedures included the addition of glycerol and acetate plus reducing agents to both layers of a two-layer medium and rinsing of the filter with a rich resuscitation medium. Some changes in incubation time and temperatures were used. This method was compared with the multiple-tube fermentation most-probable-number procedure and the one-step M-FC agar-membrane filter method (direct M-FC) in terms of fecal coliform recovery from various aquatic environments that cause bacterial injury. With chlorinated sewage effluents, results of the IM-MF technique were equal to or greater than the most probable number in 9 of 18 trials and were 1.3 to 19 times greater than the M-FC method. When sewage samples were chlorinated in the laboratory, fecal coliform counts with IM-MF equaled or exceeded the most probable number in 7 of 15 trials and always exceeded the M-FC. M-FC was exceeded by IM-MF in 30 of 33 trials with clean mountain stream water. Fecal coliform bacteria that were exposed to low levels of an iodophore in the laboratory produced IM-MF counts 3 to 10 times greater than those with M-FC. A biochemical rationale for the formation of the IM-MF medium is discussed.

EFFECT OF CHELATING AGENTS ON THE GROWTH OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN SEAWATER

Jones, Galen E. (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla). Effect of chelating agents on the growth of Escherichia coli in seawater. J. Bacteriol. 87: 483–499. 1964.— Escherichia coli did not grow at 37 C, or grew only after a prolonged lag phase in filter-sterilized basal seawater medium (synthetic or natural seawater supplemented with glucose, NH 4 Cl, and K 2 HPO 4 ). When this basal medium was enriched with 0.01% or less organic matter, such as casein hydrolysate, peptone, or yeast extract, growth always occurred after a short lag phase. Adding 10 −5 m cysteine or autoclaving the seawater gave a similar effect. A variety of organic chelating agents (histidine, glycine, methionine, glycylglycine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, thioglycolic acid, o -phenanthroline, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, etc.) reversed the toxicity of filter-sterilized basal seawater medium in concentrations predictable from stability constants. Even metal-complexing agents such as Na 2 S 2 O 3 , Na 2 S, and NaCN in appropriate concentrations reversed toxicity. The quality of the distilled water and the treatment of glassware had a significant effect on the growth of E. coli in basal seawater medium. It was concluded that iodate is probably not the toxic substance for E. coli in seawater, since relatively high concentrations were stimulatory. The inhibition resulting from the individual salts of synthetic seawater was proportional to their concentration; NaCl was most inhibitory. This toxicity is believed to be derived from trace impurities in the reagent-grade chemicals used to prepare synthetic seawater. Evidence was also found for the toxicity of heavy metals in natural seawater. Heavy metals in seawater appear to inhibit growth but not respiration.