Several laboratory experiments were performed to determine the species of an unknown crop. During staining the bacteria were determined to be Gram negative after performing a differential Gram stain. The bacteria turned purple. When viewing the bacteria, the bacteria were rod-shaped and largely individuals rather than in groups. It was determined using deep thioglycollate agar, the unknown culture was inoculated using a stabbing technique, and the bacterium was determined to be facultative. The bacterium was also inoculated into glucose phenol red fermentation broth and phenol lactose red fermentation broth. Both tubes start out red and turn yellow if acid is present. So when the bacterium ferments it produces an acid and the phenol red turns yellow. There is also a small inverted tube placed inside the tube which indicates if gas has been produced. Both the glucose and lactose tubes turned yellow and produced gas bubbles. The bacterium was also tested to determine whether it could catabolize the amino acid tryptophan. To determine whether the bacterium can catabolize tryptophan, a tube of broth was inoculated with the unknown substance and cultured, then Kovac's reagent was added to the tube. The test tube with the unknown substance turned red, which positively indicates that the unknown substance is able to catabolize tryptophan. Two more broth tubes were inoculated and cultured to determine whether the unknown organism can ferment glucose via the mixed acid pathway or the butylene glycol pathway. In one tube methyl red reagent was added and in the other tube Barritt reagent B was added and then Barritt reagent A was added second. The first test is the methyl red test and looks for acid production in the first......middle of the paper......and, it would be better to use it to find virulent strains of E coli in Europe than other probes. Works CitedGiammanaco, A., Maggio, M., Giammanaco, G ., Morelli, R., Minelli, F., Scheutz, F., et al. (1996). Characteristics of Escherichia coli strains belonging to the enteropathogenic serogroups of E. coli isolated in Italy from children with diarrhea. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 689-694. Johnson, J., Murray, A., Kuskowski, M., Schubert, S., Prere, M.-F., Picard, B., et al. (2005). Distribution and characteristics of Escherichia coli clonal group A. Emerging infectious diseases, 141-145. Microbiology in pictures. (2013). Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.microbiologyinpictures.com/escherichia%20coli.htmlSilva, R., Toledo, R., & Trabulsi, L. (1980). Biochemical and cultural characteristics of invasive Escherichia coli. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 441-444.