Escherichia coli

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/escherichia-coli

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Escherichia coli?1885
2. What is the scientific name?Escherichia coli
3. What is the metabolic classification?Facultative anaerobic bacterium
4. What is Escherichia coli and why is it in my tummy?Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a tiny germ that lives in the gut. It helps digest food and makes vitamin K2, which is important for blood and bones.
5. How does E. coli help my body?E. coli breaks down foods that our own enzymes can't. It also keeps bad germs away by competing with them and making special proteins. Plus it produces vitamin K2 for healthy blood and bones.

Microbiota: The community of microorganisms that live in a particular environment, such as the human gut.
Symbiotic Relationship: A close and long-term interaction between two different biological species.
Virulence Factors: Molecules produced by infectious agents that contribute to their ability to cause disease.
Recombinant DNA Technology: Techniques used to join DNA molecules from different sources and introduce them into host cells.