A Summary Of Gram-Negative Bacteria

The bacterial cell wall is comprised of glycan strands of repeating disaccharide derivatives N-acetylglucosamine acid and N-acetylmuramic acid attached to a cross-link of amino acids, including L-alanine, D-alanine, D-glutamic acid, and either L-lysine or diaminopimelic acid (DAP). This mesh-like structure is called the peptidoglycan. It serves as an exoskeleton for the bacterial cell and is critical to bacterial cell’s ability to survive environmental conditions [1]. In gram-positive bacteria, the peptidoglycan is the cell’s outermost structure, while in the gram-negative bacteria, this structure is sandwiched between an outer membrane and the inner membrane called the periplasm.

The first result of importance was the result of the Gram stain. The observations of the unknown bacteria from the slant culture after Gram staining showed that the unknown bacteria were Gram negative bacilli (Image 1). After determining the unknown bacteria was Gram negative, an oxidase test was conducted on a sample from the slant culture. The cotton swap with the sample of bacteria did not change color when the oxidase reagent was applied, thus providing a negative result. With a negative oxidase test, further tests were conducted to determine various characteristics of the unknown bacteria. A MR-VP broth was inoculated with a sample from a slant culture of unknown bacteria. After incubation, the methyl red reagent was added to the broth, and the broth turned red, providing a positive result (Image 2). An EMB agar streak plate was inoculated with a sample from a slant culture of the unknown bacteria, and after incubation, growth was found on the plate, providing a positive result (Image 3). A Citrate agar slant was inoculated, and after incubation, growth was found on the media, providing a positive result (Image 4). A Urea agar slant was inoculated, and after incubation, the agar had changed from a peach color to a bright pink color, providing a positive result (Image 5). Using the flowchart (Figure 1) developed from the Table of Expected Results, the lab partners started at the oxidase test. Given the negative result of the oxidase test, the flowchart is

The Gram stain was used to determine if the bacteria was gram positive or negative. A negative test shows a pink color and a positive test is a purple color. When a bacterium is negative it is because it has an outer membrane and a thin layer of peptidoglycan that is much harder to stain. A positive bacterium has a thick layer of peptidoglycan and no outer membrane that can be penetrated by crystal violet.

Often scientists work with bacteria that do not come in a labeled test tube— for example, bacterial samples taken from infected human tissue or from the soil—and the scientist must then identify the unknown microorganism in order to understand what behavior to expect from the organism, for example, a certain type of infection or antibiotic resistance. However, because of the relatively few forms of bacteria compared to animals and because of the lack of bacterial fossil records due to their asexually reproductive nature, the taxonomy used to classify animals cannot be applied to bacteria (Brown 275). In order to classify unknown bacteria, a variety of physiological and metabolic tests are available to narrow a sample down from the fathomless number of possibilities into a more manageable range. Once these tests have been performed, the researcher can consult Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, a systematically arranged and continually updated collection of all known bacteria based on their structure, metabolism, and other attributes.

This means that the bacteria for this lawn have cells that are surrounded by a cell wall which includes a thin layer of peptidoglycan and surrounding that is an outer lipid membrane that does not contain the Gram strain. Yet at the same time while Kanamycin was the most effective the Ampicillin and Penicillin had reactions as well. The Ampicillin would kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative so this could indicate that there are Gram-negative bacteria in the lawn, but the fact that the Penicillin worked as well was what was interesting. This means that this bacterial lawn contains both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive are bacteria with cell walls that contain a thick layer of peptiodoglycan that retains the Gram strain. For plate 2, trashcan lid, only the Kanamcyin worked which indicates that the only bacteria in this lawn are Gram-negative, but if that is true why didn't the Ampicillin work at all? Ampicillin works to kill both positive and negative grams, but there was no reaction this time. Could it be that it needs more

This experiment was conducted to find the genus and species of an unknown bacteria prescribed by the lab teacher, which was unknown bacteria GA3 in my case. Identification of unknown bacteria techniques are used on an every day basis to figure out what type of bacteria it is and to find the best method of how to treat a patient with this bacteria (1). All five “I’s” of Microbiology were used in the testing for the unknown culture. Inoculation was used several times to put the unknown culture into agar plates or into biochemical test tubes. After Inoculation of these tubes or plates, they always were placed into the incubator for further growth and development. Isolation was used to make sure we got the correct bacteria we were testing for. After each further isolation, we gram stained the culture and inspected the culture under a microscope to further help in the identification process of the unknown bacteria. Multiple tests were done on the unknown culture to make sure we were confident in what kind of bacteria the unknown was.

The peptidoglycan layer differs between a gram negative and gram positive cell. A gram negative cell has a thinner peptidoglycan layer, while a gram positive cell has a thicker peptidoglycan layer that results in a more complex NAM and NAG cross-linking.

This experiment was given to us to utilized previous knowledge learned throughout the semester to identify a gram negative unknown bacterium. We had to first learn the difference between a gram negative and a gram positive organism. We started off with doing gram stains to determine whether it was positive or negative. Based on the gram stains, a gram positive stains purple and a gram negative stains pink. A gram positive stains purple because the cell walls is made of a thick peptidoglycan layer and doesn’t

8. Discuss a possible mechanism of Gram Staining in terms of differences in structure and chemistry between the walls of gram-positive and gram-negative

In the world of microbiology it is vitally important to be able to discern the identities of microorganisms. Not only is it important in a lab setting but as well as in healthcare in general. Properly identify what strain of bacteria a person has will aid in the proper medicine and dose given. Throughout the semester we have learned about different types of bacteria and certain test that can clearly identify them. The purpose of this lab report is to identify a Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterium. Using all the knowledge of procedures and lab techniques identify the unknown and discuss all the tests you performed.

Gram negative and gram positive bacteria differ from each other in many ways especially in the composition and size of their cell walls. Unlike Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer surround by an outer membrane. This outer membrane contains many proteins one of them being lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which contributes to the bacteria’s negative charge. One part of this protein is a lipid, called Lipid A, which is considered an endotoxin because this lipid triggers an immune response stimulating fever

but they have a lot of it making them stronger. Secondly, the “gram” in “gram positive and gram negative” refers to how a bacterium reacts to a gram stain. To

Life on this planet began with microorganisms. Through millions of years microorganisms have found ways to successfully adapt and survive. These adaptations have created a wide biodiversity, allowing them to basically populate in all places. Why are these microbes so important? Because they shape the history of our world. Some microbes can be deathly to humans while some others are favorable, for example, bacteria that lives in the gut of both humans and animals and helps during the process of digestion (Alfred Brown & Heidi Smith, 2006). Understanding these interactions help scientists to find ways to protect humans from potential deathly pathogens. In order to observe microbes, microscope proficiency and microorganisms’ identification are crucial skills in a microbiology lab. During this laboratory session, samples of environmental and human organisms were inoculated into two different rich media and incubated to their according temperature. After this, appropriate use and calibration of the microscope was performed. Lastly, morphology and size of different species of bacteria, algae, fungi and protozoan were recorded.

In all areas of biology, it is easy to see that structure is related to function. This statement holds true in microbiology as well, the study of microorganisms, including bacteria. One characterizing feature of bacteria is the cell wall, which can generally (although not in all situations) be categorized into one of two categories: either Gram positive or Gram negative. Gram positive bacteria’s cell walls are composed of a large peptidoglycan layer (up to 90% of their cell wall). Within this large peptidoglycan layer, one can find techoic acids, which contribute to the maintenance of cell wall structure, and lipotechoic acids, which attach to membrane lipids. Gram positive bacteria that act as pathogens can also potentially release exotoxins, which can have very dangerous effects on humans. Gram negative bacteria, on the other hand, have a very small layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall, which is surrounded by an outer membrane. Within the outer membrane, one can find the lipopolysaccharide layer, which is one of the most distinguishing factors of Gram-negative bacteria. It is important to note that Gram negative bacteria fail to possess techoic

They have different ribosomal RNAs. Archaea works with three RNA polymerases just like other eukaryotes. In contrast the bacteria only possess one. Also the archaea have cell walls which in effect do lack peptidoglycan including membranes enclosing lipids with hydrocarbons rather than fatty acids. The lipids within the archaea are unique and have an ether linkage with glycerol backbones while the bacterium has an ester linkage. In total archaea is more similar to eukaryotes than bacteria making it a more sophisticated microorganism. Nevertheless they differ greatly in their genetic and biochemical ways. Archaea is and will always be considered a distinct domain of life. They thrive in physically or geochemically extreme conditions. When trying to act upon an archaea or bacteria with the use of antibiotics we can witness that both organisms will react