Lecture 16-17 Culture media, Cultivation techniques, & Types of cultures Flashcards
Two broad classes of culture media
chemically defined and complex
Chemically defined
exact composition of pure chemicals used to formulate medium is known
Used for well characterized isolates in lab studies
chemically defined
Complex media (“rich” media)
exact chemical composition is poorly defined
Used as a non-specific medium for growing many organisms
rich media
Often naturally sourced components
rich media
Selective media
inhibits growth of unwanted organisms, supports growth of desired organisms
The dye that inhibits growth of Gram-positives and selects for the isolation of Gram-negatives
Brilliant Green (BG) agar
Enriched media
contains growth factors, vitamins, and other essential nutrients to promote the growth of fastidious organisms
Fastidious organisms
organisms that cannot make certain nutrients and require them to be added to their medium
Commonly used to supply nutrients in various mediums
blood, serum, egg yolk
Used to grow a wide range of pathogens, particularly those that are more difficult to grow
enriched media
Differential media
contains compounds that allow groups of microorganisms to be visually distinguished by the appearance of the colony or the surrounding media
What basis does differential media use to show visual differences?
biochemical differences
Alpha hemolysis
indistinct zone of partial destruction
Beta hemolysis
clear, colorless zone appears
Gamme hemolysis
no apparent hemolytic activity or discoloration
Examples of selective AND differential media
MacConkey Agar & Mannitol Salt Agar
MacConkey Agar
inhibit Gram-positives (w/ bile salts and crystal violet) and produces a color change (w/ lactose fermenters)
Mannitol Salt Agar
mannitol fermentation and phenol red for differentiation, high salt selects of S. aureus (only super hardy and high salt loving will grow)
Colony
a visible mass of microbial cells arising from one cell or from a group of the same microbes
Batch cultures
closed system, nutrients not renewed, exponential growth limited to a few generations
Continuous (chemosat) cultures
bacterial cultures maintained in a state of exponential growth over long periods of time
Culturing technique that allows for bacterial population at a constant density
continuous cultures
What continuous culturing relieves
nutrient insufficiency, accumulation of waste products, and accumulation of cells
Steps to making an aerobic culture
1) make culture media
2) sterilize medium
3) inoculate liquid or steak plate
4) incubate in aerobic environment until culture grows
Used for anaerobic culturing when microbe can be mildly exposed to H2O
GasPak Jar or Anaerobic GasPak container
Used for anaerobic culturing when microbe CANNOT be exposed to H2O
Anaerobic chamber/glove box; very delicate
Contains only one species or strain
pure culture
Colony
a population of cells arising from a single cell or spore or from a group of attached cells
Another name for a colony
colony-forming unit (CFU)
Method used to isolate pure cultures
streak plate method
Describe the streak plate method
small amount of inoculum is picked up on a sterile inoculating loop, drawn repeatedly across the surface of the plate
Biofilms
microbial communities
Where do you find biofilms?
in slime or hydrogel environments
Communication in biofilms
quorum sensing
What quorum sensing allows for
allows bacteria to coordinate activity and group together into communities
Benefits of biofilms
share nutrients, sheltered from harmful factors, responsible for many chronic infections and diseases
Percentage of infections that are caused by biofilms
70%
What do Biosafety Levels do (BSLs)
describes the condition of the lab
BSL 1
for nonpathogenic microbes, PPE required, standard sterile conditions
BSL 2
for pathogens not readily transmitted by aerosol/contact, same day decontamination of all biological materials
BSL 3
for pathogens transferred by aerosol/contact and pose a serious health threat, water in only, protective lab clothing required, non-circulating airflow
BSL 4
for readily-transmitted (highly contagious) pathogens causing fatal diseases with no preventative vaccine or cure, full-body air-supplied “space suit”, facility located in separate building