An Experimental and Quantitative Analysis of E. coli Stress Response: Metabolic and Antibiotic Stressors

Abstract

<p>A series of experiments and mathematical models explore the response of the bacteria <italic>E. coli</italic> to stressors. Experimentally, the effect of L-homocysteine, a non-protein amino acid, is explored, and via math models, the effect of trimethoprim, a common antibiotic, is also explored. Previous work on L-homocysteine labels it a stressor, and this assertion is refined via the presented work. A mathematical model that improves on a previous work published by Kwon et al. (2008) explores the response of <italic>E. coli</italic> to various supplementations of amino acids when exposed to trimethoprim. New methods of developing antibiotics and therapeutic drug treatments are also explored.</p>