Student Name: burton
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit): AC-RK362UP
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Escherichia coli is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, yet it is also a common
microorganism found within the human gut. What explains this disparity?
Escherichia coli or E. Coli is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness
despite being a common microorganism that is found within the human gut. While foundwithin the
body, it is considered a foreign structure and is not regulated by homeostasis when originating
from outside of the host leading to active infection.
2. There are several foods and beverages listed in this lab that are created through the actions of
microorganisms. Name five of the foods and the specific microorganisms that are used to make
each of them.
Fruit: Escherichia coli, Milk - listeria monocytogenes, Cheese- lactococcus, Bread-
saccharomyces, Yogurt- lactobacillus
3. Using an online research tool such as the A-Z index on the CDC website, explain why Listeria
monocytogenes is a major threat to pregnant women and their developing fetuses, who are ten
times more likely to get sick than other demographic groups.
Pregnant woman who develop listeria monocytogenes can pass the infection through the
placenta to the fetus, which can result in adverse effects such as miscarriage or stillbirth,
premature birth, or sepsis for the mother and the unborn child.
EXPERIMENT 1: Assessing the Bacterial Load of Milk with Methylene Blue
, Results Tables
Table 1: Time Required for Methylene Blue Color Change
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit): AC-RK362UP
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Escherichia coli is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, yet it is also a common
microorganism found within the human gut. What explains this disparity?
Escherichia coli or E. Coli is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness
despite being a common microorganism that is found within the human gut. While foundwithin the
body, it is considered a foreign structure and is not regulated by homeostasis when originating
from outside of the host leading to active infection.
2. There are several foods and beverages listed in this lab that are created through the actions of
microorganisms. Name five of the foods and the specific microorganisms that are used to make
each of them.
Fruit: Escherichia coli, Milk - listeria monocytogenes, Cheese- lactococcus, Bread-
saccharomyces, Yogurt- lactobacillus
3. Using an online research tool such as the A-Z index on the CDC website, explain why Listeria
monocytogenes is a major threat to pregnant women and their developing fetuses, who are ten
times more likely to get sick than other demographic groups.
Pregnant woman who develop listeria monocytogenes can pass the infection through the
placenta to the fetus, which can result in adverse effects such as miscarriage or stillbirth,
premature birth, or sepsis for the mother and the unborn child.
EXPERIMENT 1: Assessing the Bacterial Load of Milk with Methylene Blue
, Results Tables
Table 1: Time Required for Methylene Blue Color Change
