Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
06:10
Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
23.6K
Phenotypic landscape of a bacterial cell.
Robert J Nichols1, Saunak Sen, Yoe Jin Choo
1University of California, San Francisco, 94143, USA.
Cell
|December 28, 2010
Summary
This study combined chemical genomics and fitness measurements in E. coli to generate over 10,000 bacterial phenotypes. The findings reveal gene functions, antibiotic mechanisms, and chromosome organization, aiding microbiological and bioinformatics research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Increasing bacterial sequence data necessitates efficient gene-phenotype association methods.
- High-throughput, cost-effective approaches are crucial for bacterial research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a high-throughput chemical genomics approach for bacterial gene-phenotype mapping.
- To generate a comprehensive dataset of E. coli phenotypes across diverse conditions.
- To uncover gene functions, antibiotic mechanisms, and chromosomal organization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large-scale chemical genomics screening in E. coli.
- Employed quantitative fitness measurements across hundreds of conditions.
- Generated a mutant library for parallel growth profiling.
Main Results:
- Characterized over 10,000 bacterial phenotypes.
- Identified gene essentiality and potential gene functions.
- Provided insights into antibiotic resistance and drug synergy (e.g., trimethoprim and sulfonamides).
- Revealed higher-order organization of the bacterial chromosome.
Conclusions:
- The combined chemical genomics and fitness measurement approach yields high-quality, discovery-rich data.
- The generated dataset offers valuable associations between genes and phenotypes for the research community.
- Inferences on drug mechanisms of action and gene functions were successfully derived.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Prokaryotic Cells
109.2K
Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins....
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins....
109.2K
01:28Prokaryotic Cells
29.4K
Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize...
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize...
29.4K
01:29Microbial Morphologies
4.8K
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
4.8K
01:28Bacterial Growth Curve
5.9K
The bacterial growth curve is a fundamental concept in microbiology that describes the dynamics of bacterial population growth in a closed system with controlled environmental conditions, such as temperature and nutrient availability. This curve is divided into four distinct phases: lag, log (exponential), stationary, and death phases, each reflecting a unique stage of bacterial adaptation and growth. During the lag phase, bacteria acclimate to their surroundings by synthesizing essential...
5.9K
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
680
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
680
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
201
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
201