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Classification

Where does E. coli get classified?

Escherichia coli Classification

Domain: Bacteria

Kingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Proteobacteria

Class: Gamma Proteobacteria

Order: Enterobacteriales

Family: Enterobacteriaceae

Genus: Escherichia

Species: Escherichia coli (E. coli)

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Explanation of Classification:

Domain and Kingdom: Escherichia coli fits into the domain and kingdom of Bacteria because members of this group are unicellular microorganisms.

Phylum: Escherichia coli fits into the phylum Proteobacteria because members of this group are Gram-negative (G-) bacterium with an outer membrane composed primarily of lipopolysaccharides.

Class: Escherichia coli fits into the class Gamma Proteobacteria because members of this group are facultatively anaerobic G- bacterium.

Order: Escherichia coli fits into the order Enterobacteriales because members of this group are rod-shaped facultatively anaerobic G- bacterium.

Family: Escherichia coli fits into the family Enterobacteriaceae because members of this group are motile via peritrichous flagella that grows well at 37oC, is Oxidase negative, Catalase positive, and reduces nitrates.

Genus: Escherichia coli fits into the Genus Escherichia (which is named for the person who discovered this genus, Theodor Escherich) because members of this group are mostly opportunistic flora that are enteric (colonize in the intestinal tract of mammals).

Species: Escherichia coli is one of five species recognized under the Genus Escherichia.  What makes E. coli unique is by these biochemical activities: ferments lactose, possesses lysine decarboxylase, is Vogus-Proskauer negative, produces indole, doesn't grow on nitrate, and doesn't produce H2S.

*Confused?  Retrieved from Microsoft ClipArt Most of this will be explained in other sections.

Phylogenetic Tree

Used with Permission from http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ogunseitan/phyltree.asp (Link To)

Phylogenetic Tree courtesy of Oladele Oguseitan, Author of Microbial Diversity

Learn about some of E. coli's relatives:

1. Deinococcus radiondurans                             2. Helicobacter pylori

3. Mycobacterium tuberculosis                          4. Mycoplasma pneumoniae  

 5. Neisseria meningitidis                                  6. Staphylococcus aureus

7. Streptococcus pyogenes                               8. Vibrio cholerae

 

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ŠApril 2008