E. Coli genes a mystery at Great Lakes beaches
Ann Arbor, MI — Scientists at Central Michigan University have found genes from disease-causing E. coli in sand at Great Lakes beaches.
"We don’t yet know why the attachment genes are so common while the toxin genes are rare," says Elizabeth Alm, a microbiologist from the Institute of Great Lakes Research at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. "The E. coli could be using the attachment genes to survive in the beach sand."
E. coli pathogens, such as
Researchers used molecular techniques to determine the presence of attachment and toxin genes in E. coli collected from sand at seven beaches. The attachment genes were very common, while the toxin genes were not.
The presence of these attachment genes doesn’t necessarily mean that disease-causing E. coli are present at the beach.
More studies are needed to assess the potential health implications of these findings.
Original Publication Information
Results of this study, "Escherichia coli toxin and attachment genes in sand at great lakes recreational beaches," are reported by Leah Bauer and Elizabeth Alm in Volume 38, No. 1, of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, published by Elsevier, 2011.
Contacts
For more information about the study, contact Elizabeth Alm, PhD, Professor, Microbiology, Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, alm1ew@cmich.edu, (989) 774-2503.
For information about the Journal of Great Lakes Research, contact Marlene Evans, Editor, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada; jglr@ec.gc.ca; (306) 975-5310.
Since 1967, IAGLR has served as the focal point for compiling and disseminating multidisciplinary knowledge on North America's Laurentian Great Lakes and other large lakes of the world and their watersheds. In part, IAGLR communicates this knowledge through publication of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, available to members in print and electronic form. A searchable archive of the journal is available online and includes the abstracts of articles from the journal's inception in 1975 through the most recent issue. In addition, complete articles are available to members who have signed up for an electronic subscription.