A 59-year-old female has been diagnosed with Escherichia coli infection following the consumption of contaminated meat. The patient is exhibiting a high fever, severe abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. The RN provides supportive care and fluid resuscitation as ordered. The nurse and medical team provide education to the patient and her family regarding the genetics of the E. coli bacterium.
-In gram-negative bacteria,like E.coli,the fertility factor is a plasmid possessed by the bacterium that will donate its DNA to a recipient cell.Which of the following statements by the patient demonstrates an understanding of this plasmid?

Question

A 59-year-old female has been diagnosed with Escherichia coli infection following the consumption of contaminated meat. The patient is exhibiting a high fever, severe abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. The RN provides supportive care and fluid resuscitation as ordered. The nurse and medical team  provide education to the patient and her family regarding the genetics of the E. coli bacterium.
-In gram-negative bacteria,like E.coli,the fertility factor is a plasmid possessed by the bacterium that will donate its DNA to a recipient cell.Which of the following statements by the patient demonstrates an understanding of this plasmid?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fertility factor, or F plasmid, encodes the information to create a pilus, a structure that helps with bacterial conjugation. This allows the bacterium to transfer its DNA to a recipient cell. Option A is incorrect because the F plasmid is typically a small, circular piece of DNA. Option B is incorrect because the F plasmid is found in F+ cells. Option C is incorrect because transduction is the process of bacterial DNA transfer via bacteriophages, not the F plasmid.

A 59-Year-Old Female Has Been Diagnosed with Escherichia Coli Infection