Microbiology Lab Flashcards
Describe what is an AGAR Plate
Bacterial culture medium containing agar poured into a petri dish.
Agar Slant
BActerial culture medioum containing agar in a TEST TUBE that is allowed ot solidify @ an angle & forms a solid, slanted surface.
Aseptic Technique
A method of handling microbial cultures, patient specimens, & other sources of microbes in a way that reduces contamination & prevents infection of the handler or others who may be exposed.
BACILLUS
Bacterial cell shape that is cylindrical or rod-like (longer than it is wide)
Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology
Internationally recognized reference bok & collection of datasets for bacterial classification & identification.
Biochemical Testing
Tests used in the identification of bacterial species. Because of the inherent differences in Physiologic & Metabolic activities of bacterial species, biochemical testing reactions can help provide presumptive identificaiton of isolates based on the presence or absence of a trait.
examples: Catalase, oxidase, sugar fermentation, hemolysis, & enxymatic activity.
type of bacteria
Coccus
shape?
Bacterial cell shape that is spherical or rounded in appearance.
Colony
Visible mass of bacteria growing together on an agar plate or slant.
Colonies are derived from a single microorganism.
CFU: colony forming unit
Colonies may form on the top surface of the agar or within the agar, referred to as subsurface colonies.
COLONIES
CFU
Colony forming unite is used to estimate the number of viable microorganism cells in a sample. Viable is defined as the ability to grow and multiply under the incubation conditions provided.
unknown bacterial identification vocab.
Culture
Microbiology term to describe
**many colonies ** growing on a plate, ona a slant, or both.
A culture is referred to as a “pure culture” when there is only 1 type (species) of organisms in it.
unknown bacterial identification vocab
Dichotomous key
Visual flowchart
narrow down
Visual flowchart that can be used to map the series of testings that help identify an organism. TO NARROW DOWN. Each step of a Dichotomous key has 2 outcomes, + or -, leading to a next set of testing choices.
The top of the D key would consider a broad group of organisms. The possibilities narrow at each level/ step decision until arriving at a single possibility at the bottom.
genetic characteristic
analysis of bacterial DNA sequence for unique orders that are found in only one organism.
this method is highly sensitive but subject to contamination and errors.
GRAM STAIN
A differential stain for bacteria, useful in identification and taxonomy.
MORPHOLOGY
The study & characterizationo f bacterial cells based on the microscopic form, arrangement, & structures of the microorganism.
VEGETATIVE CELL
A metabolically active & growing cell.
