Alpha Haemolysis Lab Report

There are many reasons for identifying an unknown bacterium. The reasons range from medical purposes, such as determining if the unknown could cause ailments in living things or knowing what microorganisms are needed to make antibiotics. The experiment was done by applying methods in order to identify an unknown bacterium.

There are many reasons for knowing the identity of microorganisms. The reasons range from knowing the causative agent of a disease in a patient, so as to know how it can be treated, to knowing the correct microorganism to be used for making certain foods or antibiotics. This study was done by applying all of the methods that have been learned so far in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of unknown bacteria. The identification process can be completed with a series of deferential stains and biochemical tests. Creating a dichotomous key helps to limit the amount of biochemical tests done on an unknown organism and by observation

One of these reasons is in regards to pathogens. If a bacterium is pathogenic, it is important to know the identity of the bacteria so that its characteristics can be examined and used in the treatment of the infected host. For example, if the identification of an unknown pathogen leads to the knowledge that the pathogen contains a beta-lactam ring in its cell wall, a drug targeting this cellular component can be used in the treatment of this pathogen. If this information was unknown and the pathogen did not contain a beta-lactam, the drug would not help the infected host. Another reason it is beneficial to identify unknown bacteria is for clinical uses. Many pharmaceutical drugs are based upon or isolated from products made by bacteria. Penicillin is an obvious example of a beneficial drug that was isolated from a mold. By identifying new bacteria and discovering the unique properties of a new or under researched species, beneficial medical products may be able to be derived or produced as a result. A third important reason to identify bacterial unknowns can tie into the safety and conservation of the environment. Because of the varying properties and abilities of bacteria, it is beneficial to identify bacteria that may be able to help clean up human impact. For example, Alcanivorax borkumensis, is a bacterium that has been discovered to aid in the cleanup of spilled petroleum. Other bacteria have been discovered to aid in eating pollution and other toxins in water. The identification of important bacteria such as these can lead to increased efforts in environmental conservation that use a more organic clean up approach.

The Process of Identification of an Unknown Bacteria Entering the medical field, it is important to understand the way bacteria function and grow. Understanding bacteria allows nurses and doctors to have a clear understanding how to fight bacteria and prevent major infections. The study of microbiology requires more than an academic understanding but also a hands on understanding of lab techniques and aseptic techniques. Lab methods that have been learned throughout this semester will be used to identify the unknown bacteria.

Unknown lab report# 24 Introduction Microbiology is a study of organisms that surrounds us every day. It requires an educational understanding to identify organisms, and the ability to distinguish different bacteria’s. In applying the learning process of the different bacteria’s, unknown bacteria samples are given to be studied and identified.

The bases of this experiment was to discover the identify of the unknown from three possible specimens: Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Utilizaing the T streak technique, the bacteria was isolated into pure colonies for further study. The Gram Stain method was used to identity the morhphology of the bacteria such as the shape and whether the bacteria was Gram positive or Gram negative. Biochemical test were also used to help identify the unknown bacteria. The biochemical test used was the Triple Sugar Iron Agar, Sulfur Indole Motility test, Methyl Red test, Voges-Proskauer test, Citrate test, Urease test, and the Gelatin test. After observing the morphology of the bacteria using the Gram Stain method and utilizing all the possible biochemical test, the bacteria was identified to be Enterobacter aerogenes.

There are many reasons for knowing the identity of microorganisms. The reasons range from knowing the causative agent of a disease in a patient, so as to know how it can be treated, to knowing the correct microorganism to be used for making certain foods or antibiotics. This study was done by applying all of the methods that I have been learned so far in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of an unknown bacterium.

For many years the identification of microorganisms has been important in the world of medicine. It is essential or correct disease diagnosis in patients and for proper treatment. Knowing the correct identity and characteristics of microorganism is crucial when disease outbreaks occur in populations, also knowing how humans can benefit from microorganisms is important; many can be used in making certain foods or antibiotics.

Different microbes can transmit and produce different types of diseases and infections. Having an unknown bacterium in the body can be a life and death situation. It is very important especially in the healthcare industry that providers are able to differentiate between organisms that are pathogenic and administer the appropriate treatment to their patients. Applying methods that were previously studied in lab, students must be able to isolate an unknown specimen by using laboratory techniques and biochemical tests.

Identifying microbes using a series of biochemical tests, like those performed by students, is used in a clinical settings for several important reasons other than taxonomy. It is used to determine susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs, gain information for future treatments, identify pathogens in terms of their potential danger, aid epidemiologists in tracing sources of infections, and to accumulate data of interest to those studying infectious diseases (Tortora, G. J., Funke, B. R., & Case, C. L., 2016).

Bacteria are identified systematically by using various different techniques and narrow down their species present in an unknown bacterial culture. This is highly usefully in identifying infections correctly and in research regarding microorganism. Laboratories use identification techniques based on primary characteristics and gram stains to carefully identify unknown organism in samples collected (faeces, blood, sputum, mucosal swabs), to determine the cause of infection and define a disease.

Agar was introduced in 1968 by Sylvia King and William I. Metzger. Hektoen Enteric Agar is a selective and differential medium. The agar contains has bromthymol blue, acid fuchsin, lactose, salicin, sucrose, thiosulfate, bile salt and ferric ammonium citrate. Bile salts, bromothymol blue and acid fuchsin inhibit the growth of most gram positive organisms. Lactose, sucrose, and salicin provides fermentable

The first unknown test tube P found to be a gram positive bacteria. The biochemical that I performed that were positive were catalase and blood agar. Catalase has the presence of an enzyme in the test isolated detected using hydrogen peroxide. Bacteria possess catalase with a small number of bacteria; isolation is added to hydrogen peroxide when bubbles occur. When the bubbles occurred on gram positive bacterium it was a conformation of being positive. Also, blood agar plates is useful for cultivating fastidious organisms and for determining the hemolytic capabilities of an organism. There are three types of hemolysis, such as, beta- hemolysis, alpha-hemolysis, and y-hemolysis. Beta-hemolysis breaks down the red blood cells and hemoglobin completely.

Investigating haemoglobin (Hb) concentration in blood samples using the haemoglobincyanide method and in foetal haemoglobin samples

Another purpose of this experiment is to stress the importance of knowing the identity of a microorganism. Knowing the species of microorganism present in a sample provides a