Cell envelope damage in Escherichia coli caused by short-term stress in water.

Physiological and morphological changes in Escherichia coli exposed to oligotrophic natural waters and reagent grade water were studied. Several lines of evidence indicated that short-term exposure in water causes cellular envelope damage. Increasing susceptibility to lysozyme, lag time before cell division, and injury as defined by differential counts on selective and nonselective media occurred with exposure time. Electron micrographs of injured cells showed morphological changes in cell envelope.