Catagory
Draft
Date of Entry
Edited by: Ian L. Pepper, Charles P. Gerba and Terry J. Gentry
“Microbes indigenous to the environment, which includes soil, water and air, are characterized as being able to adapt to variable environmental conditions such as tempera- ture, redox potential, pH, moisture regime and pressure. This differentiates them from microbes found within the human body which exist under much more constant conditions, and which normally do not survive when introduced into the environment. Microorganisms are also capable of existing under oligotrophic (low nutrient) conditions, essentially living under conditions of starvation.” (9)