Microbiology: Microorganisms That Co-exist With Life on Earth

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.

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.

Bacterial and fungi infections are easy to cure with the use of antibiotics, where as viruses can be hard to cure or vaccinate against, such as the common cold. Bacteria can be found everywhere and anywhere Soil, Water, Plants, Animals, material and even deep in the earth's crust. Bacteria feed themselves by making there food with the use of sunlight and water. We would not be able to live without Bacteria. The human body consists of lots of friendly bacteria which also protect us from dangerous ones by occupying places in the body. Some of the most deadly diseases and devastating epidemics in human history have

The colonies were smooth, translucent, and had a white brownish color. The Gram stain resulted in Gram positive cocci. After the Gram stain was completed, the bacteria were streaked on a Mannitol-Salt Agar plate and a Catalase test was performed. After these test were completed a Phenol Red Dextrose Fermentation tube was inoculated, and a SIM Tube inoculated.

Bacteria can exist almost everywhere, some are harmless, and some are harmful. There are thousands of different types of bacteria and they fall

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.

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.

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.

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

The first step toward identifying this unknown organism was to perform a Gram Stain to differentiate between gram positive and gram negative bacteria. This is an important step because it directs what the next tests will be. My Gram Stain on sample #12 showed that the bacteria was gram negative, however, after receiving the results of the OF glucose, H2S, Citrate, Urease and Motility tests, it was apparent that my Gram Stain was contaminated. I then performed a catalase test which came back negative, so I ordered a Bacitracin disc, Optochin disc and a CAMP test which had to be incubated overnight. After receipt of those test results,

During the year, microbes appeared sometime in March while humans have been here for 30 mins or fewer (11*). Ed Yong uses this fact as a springboard to explore and explain the complex relationships that exist between microbes and animals. After confirming that microbes have been here way longer than anyone of us, he gets into the thick of it by discussing the sheer ubiquity of microbes, which exist in every conceivable place. From everything you touch to the piping hot underwater vents where nothing else lives. It is as if everything has an extra invisible microbial layer.

We have our own alien planet in Dallol, Ethiopia. Temperatures soar to 127 degrees Fahrenheit with poisonous gases resonating from green pools. The pools are green because volcanic gases mix with water creating a strong acid. The acidic pools have a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. However, there is still life.

This lab and its procedures are all about finding out the unknown identification of a given bacteria. The lab consists of specific techniques, tests, chemicals, and vocabulary that are necessary for the finding of the bacterial identity. A bacterium is randomly assigned and it is a group effort to find the bacteria name through many of its specialties and characteristics. An example of classifying it would be to determine whether the bacteria is catalase negative or positive, or if the species is gram negative or positive. This lab is of huge significance because of its medical microbiology connections. Scientists Gurtler and Stanisich explained the connections more eloquently. They stated, in their medical article, that, “Medical microbiology

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.

Microbes are any organism that can’t be seen with the naked eye. They can be classified as bacteria, protists, fungi and sometimes even parasites. Many different types of microbes can exist within a community, which means that they have the potential to have a high species diversity (Reece et. al. 2014). Found virtually anywhere, microbes can range from being very beneficial for the environment to being