Microscopy, sterilisation,... Flashcards
Different types of microscopes
- Light
- Compound (bright field, dark ground, phase contrast)
- Fluorescence (UV)
- Electron microscope
Maximum theoretical resolving power of oil immersion and electron microscope
Oil immersion: 0.2 micrometer
1000X
Electron microscope: 0.005 nm
Stains used for fluorescence microscopy
Acridine orange
Auramine O
Fluorescein
Uses of fluorescence microscopy
- Auramine phenol staining
- Direct fluorescent antibody staining
- Indirect “”
First electron microscope was designed by
Ernst Ruska in 1931
Dark field microscope or dark ground microscope
Used for living, unstained or thin bacteria like spirochaetes in a dark background
It has a special condenser
Applications of phase contrast microscope
- Studying microbial motility
- Determining shape of living cell
- Detecting bacterial components such as endospores and inclusions bodies which become clearly visible because they have refractive index markedly different from water
Applications of fluorescence microscope
- Epifluorescence microscope (simple)
A) autofluorescence (cyclospora)
B) microbes coated with a fluorescent dye
Acridine orange dye for malaria parasite (quantitative buffy coat examination)
Auramine phenol for tubercle bacteria
C) immunofluorescence (direct or indirect) - Confocal microscope
Steps for preparation of a thin specimen of bacteria for transmission electron microscope
- Fixation: via glutaraldehyde or OsO4 for stabilisation
- Dehydration: acetone or ethanol
- Embedding: in a plastic polymer then hardened
- Slicing: by a ultramicrotome knife
Mounted on a copper slide
Measures to increase the contrast of electron microscope
- Staining: via lead citrate and uranyl acetate
- Negative staining: specimen is spread out on a thin film with heavy metals like phosphotungstinic acid or uranyl acetate
Structure of viruses, bacterial gas vacuoles,… - Shadowing: specimen is coated with a thin film of platinum or other heavy metal at 45•
For virus morphology, bacterial flagella and plasmids,…
Sterilisation, disinfection, antisepsis
Sterilisation: destruction of all forms of life including spores
Disinfection: destruction of only pathogenic organisms
Antisepsis: disinfection of living tissues
Order of susceptibility of organisms
Prions ➡️ bacterial spores ➡️ cysts of protozoa ➡️ mycobacteria ➡️ non enveloped viruses ➡️ fungi ➡️ gram +ve bacteria ➡️ gram -ve bacteria ➡️ enveloped viruses From difficulty to easy
Heat sterilisation
Most effective Mechanism: 1. Oxidative damage 2. Denaturation of proteins 3. Increased electrolytes to toxic levels
Examples of dry heat sterilisation
- Flaming:
Disinfection of mouth of test tubes, cover slips, slides - Red heat:
Sterilisation of inoculating loops, straight wires, tips of forceps - Incineration
- Hot air oven
Incineration (dry heat)
Sterilisation and reduction in volume of infectious hospital water
Reduction volume decreases by 80-85%
1° chamber: 650-750°C
2° chamber: 1050-800°C
Hot air oven is used for
Sterilisation of:
- Metallic instruments
- Glass ware
- Oils, jellies, powder, waxes
- Cotton swabs
Hot air oven
Temperature and precautions
160°C for 2 hours (M/C) 170°C for 1 hour 180°C for 30 min Precautions: 1. No rubber objects 2. No over loading 3. Cool for 2 hours before opening
Efficacy of hot air oven
Physical: temperature chart recorder
Chemical: Browne’s tube No 3
Biological: spores of C. tetani out B. subtilis
Moist heat
Mechanism:
Denaturation and coagulation of proteins
Superior to dry heat
Examples of moist heat less than 100°C
- Pasteurisation
- Serum bath: MH at 56°C for 1 hour for 3 consecutive days
- Vaccine bath:
MH at 60°C for 1 hour for 3 consecutive days - Inspissation:
MH at 80-85°C for 30 min for 3 consecutive days
Sterilisation of heat sensitive medium
Examples of pasteurisation
1. Holder method: MH at 63°C for 30 min 2. Flash method: MH at 72°C for 15-20 sec followed by rapid cooling to <13°C 3. Very High Temperature method: MH at 149°C for 0.5 sec
Pathogenic bacteria surviving Holder method
Coxiella burnetti
Efficacy testing of pasteurisation
- Coliform test: superior
Pasteurised milk overnight on McConkey agar, no gas and acid - Phosphatase test: M/C
Pasteurised milk and substrate (disodium phenyl PO4) for 2 hours
Moist heat at 100°C
- Tydallisation/fractional sterilisation
2. Autoclave