Bacterial Visualization, Growth and Control Flashcards
resolution is more important than _____
magnification
stain increases ____________
contrast
contrast increases _______
resolution
visualizing bacteria depends on (3)
magnification, contrast, resolution
sample fixation (def)
secures sample to slide before staining
kills sample
eliminates movement
sample fixation types
heat fixation
chemical fixation
heat fixation
dry sample on slide, pass sample/ slide through flame
denatured proteins in sample adhere sample to slide
chemical fixation
less damaging that heat
use for delicate samples (flagella, formalin)
basic stain
most common
positive ion colored
binds negatively charged cell surface
acidic (negative) stain
negative ion colored
stain repelled from negatively charged cell surface
ink darkens background around cell to show cell shape, arrangement
basic stain examples
safranin, carbolfuschin, crystal violet, methylene blue, malachite green
acidic (negative) stain example
nigrisin
india ink
mordant
not a stain
iodine (negative ion, heat
mordant function
increases affinity for stain, enhancing cell staining
increases visibility of external cell walls, flagella
staining techniques (3)
vital
simple
differential
vital stain
stains living sample
adds color to wet mount and hanging drop preparations
no heat fixation
simple stain
1 stain
stains all cells same color
methylene blue, crystal violet
differential stain
distinguishes 2 different species in sample
2 stains
differential stain types (5)
Gram stain acid fast stain endospore stain capsule stain flagella stain
4 steps to a differential stain
- primary stain- stains all species same color
- mordant
- destaining
- counterstain
Gram stain
distinguishes Gram positive bacteria (blue) from Gram negative (pink)
Gram stain steps
Start with heat fixed sample.
primary stain- crystal violet 1 min, rinse H20, mordant- iodine 1 min, rinse H20, Destain with acetone 5-10 seconds, rinse with water. Counterstain with safranin 3 min, rinse with water. Blot.
acid fast stain
stains Mycobacterium red
all others blue after counterstain
acid fast stain steps
primary stain carbolfucshin, heat slide to steaming (mordant) destain with alcohol- only Mycobacterium retain red. Counterstain with methylene blue.
endospore stain
stains endospores in their resistant stage, able to survive harsh conditions
ex Bacillus, Clostridium
endospores appear blue/green inside of pink cells
endospore stain steps
primary stain malachite green, heat (mordant) destain with water, counterstain with safranin
capsule stain
shows shape, arrangement of cells, thickness of capsule
ink is repelled from capsule surface so the cells appear white against black background
Klebsiella, Cryptococcus
capsule stain steps
primary stain India ink, counterstain methylene blue
flagella stain
requires gentle chemical fixation without heat
shows number and arrangement of flagella
pure culture
contains single species, not a mixture
derived from a single cell
colonies must not touch other colonies on plate to be certain culture is pure
3 techniques to obtain isolated colonies
streak plate
pour plate
spread plate
streak plate
easiest technique
pour plate
sample mixed in liquid agar
poured and allowed to harden
spread plate
sample poured on hardened agar
spread with sterile glass rod
culture media definition
solid or liquid containing nutrients or other agents required for growth
agar
polysaccharide from red algae
defined medium
known chemical composition
minimal defined medium
contains just enough nutrients to support growth
ex E. Coli mostly self-sufficient
Leuconostoc very demanding, requires many substances to grow
rich defined medium
excess nutrients
grows largest number of species
undefined (complex) medium
exact composition unknown, grows all species
contains: beef, blood, casein, yeast, soybeans
undefined medium examples
tryptic soy agar (TSA)
nutrient agar
selective medium
favors some species while inhibiting others
ex- salt agar isolates salt tolerant species from mixed sample
Staphylococcus
salt agar
isolates salt tolerant species from mixed sample
Staphylococcus
differential medium
growth characteristics on agar distinguish different species
ex- blood agar