Lab Exam 1 Flashcards
What does “ubiquitous” mean?
that they are found everywhere
What can microorganisms be isolated from?
- Soil
- Water
- Plants
- Animals
- Placed like the hot acid pools in Yellowstone
Are all microorganisms ubiquitous?
Not EVERY species is, but it applies to microorganisms as a group
What do you call microorganisms that do not reside on or in a specific plant or animal host and are not known to cause disease?
Free-living and nonpathogenic
Saprophytes play an important role in decomposition of the ecosystem. What is a Saprophyte?
A plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter
What are the three types of relationships between microorganisms and their host?
Pathogenic, Mutualism, and Commensalism
Pathogenic relationship
Microorganism causes damage to the host
Mutualistic relationship
Both the host and the microbe benefit
Commensal relationship
Microbe benefits but no effect on host
What are opportunistic pathogens?
Pathogens that take advantage of a situation that is not normally available
-They inhabit our bodies and are capable of producing a disease state if introduced into a suitable part of the body
Reservoir
Any area where a microbe with potential to cause infection resides
What is the composition of Blood Agar?
5% Sheep blood in a Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) Base
What is the purpose of blood agar?
To differentiate bacteria based on their hemolytic characteristics
Three major types of hemolysis
Beta, Alpha, and Gamma
Beta hemolysis
Complete destruction; results in cleaning of the medium
- has a yellow halo around the microbes in the TSA plate
Alpha hemolysis
Partial destruction; results in greenish discoloration of the medium
Gamma hemolysis
No hemolysis
-has neither the beta or alpha characteristics and will likely appear like nothing happened
Germicides
Refers to substances or systems, both chemical and physical, that prevent the spread of pathogens
What are the three categories of germicides?
Decontamination, Disinfection, and Serilization
Decontamination
- Lowest level of control
- Defined as “reduction of pathogenic microorganisms to a level at high items are safe to handle without protective attire”
-involves the removal of all or most organic and inorganic matter
Disinfection
- next level of control
- kills most of targeted pathogens, but typically do not kill large numbers of spores
What are the two types of disinfectants?
Chemical sterilants and antiseptics
Examples of methods of disinfection
- typically liquid or gaseous chemical agents
- dry heat
- moist heat
- UV light
Sterilization
- highest level of pathogen control
- can kill all viable organisms, even spores
- achieved by chemicals, gases, incineration, dry heat, moist heat, ethylene oxide gas, ionizing radiation, low-temp plasma, or low-temp ozone
What is the most effective and most common method of sterilization? What is an example of it?
Steam Sterilization
Ex: Autoclave
What is the sterilizing temperature for autoclaving and how long should it be done for?
Between 121 and 127 degrees C for at least 15 at the optimum temperature
What is the only way to determine with certainty that sterilization has been achieved?
Biological indicators
What does aseptic transfer mean?
Transfer of living microbes from one place to another without contamination of the culture, the sterile medium, or the surroundings
What is a culture?
A medium that contains living microbes
What is a pure culture?
A culture that contains a single species
What is a mixed culture?
A culture that contains multiple species
What assumption should be made about cultures?
All cultures are assumed to be mixed prior to obtaining isolation
Broths
Used to grow microbes when fresh cultures or large number of cells are required
Agar Slants
Used to grow stock cultures that can be refrigerated after incubation and maintained for several weeks