Microbiology Unknown Report On June 25th, 2015 I chose the test tube labeled #19. This test tube contained an unknown bacterium, and the purpose was to determine the unknown bacterium by the end of the semester. Throughout the course, I ran a series of differential tests that would lead me to discovering the characteristics of my unknown. These tests that I will discuss in this paper are vital to understanding the biochemical mechanisms that different bacteria can perform, therefore helping me identify my bacterium based on molecular differences. During the course of this paper, I will refer to my unknown as unk#19. Also, I would note that aseptic technique was performed throughout the entire experiment and subcultures were regularly made. …show more content…
To do this, one must use a series of biochemical tests. These tests will investigate the bacterium’s ability to use available enzymes and degradation of specific carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and amino acids. The use of these organic compounds will produce byproducts that can be observed to determine the metabolism of the unknown bacterium. One of the first biochemical tests that I prepared was the S.I.M. test, which is a combination of three tests in one test tube. The “S” represents sulfide for the sulfur reduction test. This individual experiment detects hydrogen sulfide production. If the unknown bacterium has either cysteine desulfurase or thiosulfate reductase it will be able to reduce sulfur to a hydrogen sulfide gas. Once H2S is produced, it combines with the ferrous ammonium sulfate, forming a black ferrous sulfide precipitate that can be seen along the original stab line; the presence of black along the stab line would indicate a positive result. This test can also be used to detect the presence or absence of motility. This observation is what makes up the “M” in the S.I.M. test for motility. The only thing that needs to be done for this test is observation. If there is growth away from the stab line, then that indicated that the unknown bacterium is motile. If there is no growth away from the stab line, then that indicates no motility and a negative result. Unk#19 presented with black precipitate as well as growth away from the stab line. After completing the motility and sulfide tests, I could then perform the indole test. The purpose of this test is to find if the unknown bacterium contains the enzyme tryptophanase can break down the amino acid, tryptophan, into its three metabolic ingredients: indole, pyruvic acid, and ammonia. If the bacterium contains tryptophanase, they will then use ammonia and pyruvic acid for nutritional needs,
The following tests according to the lab manual were performed: gram stain, fermentation tubes, methyl red, vogues proskauer, sulfur, indole, motility and growing it up on MacConkey agar. The gram stain was performed incorrectly the first time. This is because the decolorizer was not on the bacterium slide for long enough, giving a false outcome.
My unknown organism #6 is Morganella morganii, which is a gram-negative bacillus rods commonly found in the environment and also in the intestinal tracts of humans, mammals, and reptiles as a normal flora. (3, 5) This bacterium Morganella morganii, was first discovered in the 1906 by a British bacteriologist named H. de R. Morgan. (2) Despite its wide distribution, it is an uncommon cause of community-acquired infection and is most often encountered inpostoperative and other nosocomial settings. (2, 3) Morganella morganii infections respond well to appropriate antibiotic therapy; however, its
Many tests were completed on the unknown such as gram staining and inspection under microscopes to find whether the bacterium is gram positive or gram negative. Chemical resistance tests were also performed to see if certain chemicals affected the unknown growth or if it didn’t affect the bacteria at all. Each biochemical test
The main idea of this experiment was to correctly identify the unknown bacteria, #3. Identification of unknown bacteria yields multiple benefits in many different areas in the research of microorganisms. In this experiment I performed many different test dealing with things such as the presence of enzymes, fermentation abilities and different chemical reactions. Observations made from the tests were then compared to a gram negative unknown chart in order to identify the bacteria. Based off of my results and the chart, I concluded the bacteria #3 was the bacteria Escherichia coli. E. coli is most commonly found in the intestines of warm blooded organisms. Most E. coli strands are non pathogenic however, there are strands
INTRODUCTION Unknown samples were distributed to students for the purpose of identifying the sample. Multiple biochemical tests, like phenylethyl alcohol agar and decarboxylase test, were conducted on the unknown sample. The goal of the biochemical tests was to practice using the techniques learned in the microbiology lab and gain experience performing the different tests. Further, the tests allowed for the identification of an unknown from the recorded results.
The purpose of this lab was to identify two unknown bacteria cultures using various differential tests. The identification of these unknown cultures was accomplished by separating and differentiating possible
Citrobacter Freundii is a species of bacteria that can be potentially harmful to humans. It is known to cause meningitis by protruding into the brain and replicating itself (1). The Citrobacter species has also been found as a cause of some urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and even gastrointestinal diseases and symptoms (3). C. Freundii can be located in a wide variety of soils and water (3). Lastly, it is also the cause of many nosocomial infections due to its presence in water (1).
The purpose of this lab was to identify an unknown bacteria culture using differential tests. The identification of the unknown culture was accomplished by identifying the bacteria based on its specific metabolic characteristics and morphology. It is suggested that culture 11 is a sample of Enterobacter aerogenes.
The purpose of this study was to identify the unknown bacterium using biochemical tests and various methods that had been learned from previous the microbiology laboratory class. Identifying the unknown bacterium was determined by separating and differentiating possible
If the test was positive, then the colonies would start forming bubbles, and if it’s negative, then it won’t. Therefore, in our sample of the bacteria was a positive catalase reaction because we saw bubbles coming out after adding the hydrogen peroxide. Then, we used different agars whether there were selective or differential or even both to gives us more information about the unknown. One of the most imporatant agar that we used was Mannitol salt agar, which is both selective and differential medium.
At this point the presence of coliforms had been confirmed and the next step was to identify the type of coliform. This was done with the use of the IMViC test. The four sub tests within the IMViC are indole production, Methyl-red test, Voges-Proskaur test, and citrate utilization. The indole production test indicates whether or not the hydrolysis of trytophan into indole, pyruvate, and ammonia happened. The Methyl-red test indicated the Ph.
Often scientists work with bacteria that do not come in a labeled test tube— for example, bacterial samples taken from infected human tissue or from the soil—and the scientist must then identify the unknown microorganism in order to understand what behavior to expect from the organism, for example, a certain type of infection or antibiotic resistance. However, because of the relatively few forms of bacteria compared to animals and because of the lack of bacterial fossil records due to their asexually reproductive nature, the taxonomy used to classify animals cannot be applied to bacteria (Brown 275). In order to classify unknown bacteria, a variety of physiological and metabolic tests are available to narrow a sample down from the fathomless number of possibilities into a more manageable range. Once these tests have been performed, the researcher can consult Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, a systematically arranged and continually updated collection of all known bacteria based on their structure, metabolism, and other attributes.
|EMB Agar | |Distinguishes bacteria that ferment |Dark blue colonies with|E. coli and P. |
The purpose of this lab was to identify two unknown bacteria from a mixed culture. The reason for identification of unknown bacteria was to help students recognize different bacteria through different biochemical tests and characteristics. This is important in the medical field because identification of unknown bacteria can help treat a patient by knowing the contributing source of a disease. Also knowledge of different bacteria helped others make antibiotics used today. This lab was completed by using the methods learned thus far in identification of bacteria.
Introduction: Through the conduction of numerous experiments, the identity of two bacterial isolates was determined. The tested specimen was an unknown sample of a mixed culture of two different species of bacteria. The first step that was taken was obtaining a pure culture of each species of bacteria by isolating one species from the other. Once isolation was complete, the isolated cultures were tested using procedures that had been performed during previous lab sessions. A gram stain was performed on the two isolates. The isolate which had tested gram negative was then tested for the presence of cytochrome C and lactose fermentation. For the gram positive isolate, cell shape was determined and a catalase test was performed.