Most bacterial infections can be correlated to contamination of consumables such as food and water. Upon contamination, boil water advisories have been ordered to ensure water is safe to consume, despite the evidence that heat-killed bacteria can induce genomic instability of exposed (intestine) and distal cells (liver and spleen). We hypothesize that exposure to components of heat-killed Escherichia coli O157:H7 will induce genomic instability within animal cells directly and indirectly exposed to these determinants. Mice were exposed to various components of dead bacteria such as DNA, RNA, protein or LPS as well as to whole heat-killed bacteria via drinking water. Here, we report that exposure to whole heat-killed bacteria and LPS resulted in significant alterations in the steady state RNA levels and in the levels of proteins involved in proliferation, DNA repair and DNA methylation. Exposure to whole heat-killed bacteria and their LPS components also leads to increased levels of DNA damage. / xiv, 132 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 29 cm