Environmental & Soil Microbiology

Nycodenz: application and properties

What is Nycodenz Nycodenz is a non-ionic, triiodinated radiopaque substance used primarily in molecular biology and biochemistry for density gradient centrifugation. Its chemical formula is C_19H_26I_3N_3O_9. Nycodenz creates gradients that are used to separate cells, viruses, organelles, and other biological particles based on their density. Nycodenz is a brand name for a non-ionic, iso-osmotic density […]

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab, , , , ,

Factors that affect microbial population in the soil   

      The population of microorganisms in the soil are affected or influenced by many factors including soil moisture, pH, temperature, aeration, and amounts of organic and inorganic nutrients. Mesophiles (mesophilic microbes) grow at temperature range of 25-35oC while thermophiles (thermophilic microbes) grow at higher temperatures such as 45-65oC and above. Psychrophiles are microbes that thrive

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, ,

Importance of microbial population in the soil

The soil is that part of the earth crust or earth that supports plant life. It is the region of the earth surface from which plants and crops derive their nutrients and support. The environment of the soil contains different array of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and actinomycetes. These microbes play a variety

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, , , ,

MICROBIOLOGY OF THE SOIL

Soil is simply defined as the mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and the countless macroscopic and microscopic organisms that together support life on the earth’s crust (lithosphere). It is the most abundant ecosystem on earth. Soil develops as a result of the weathering of geological rock formations in the earth’s crust.  Soil usually

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, ,

MEMBRANE FILTRATION TECHNIQUE

Filtration is simply defined as the separation of particles from fluid or liquids by the use of a porous material that allows the passage of the fluid but stops or holdback unwanted particles from passing through it. Filtration can be used to separate microorganisms from a liquid or gas in which they are dispersed. It

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab, , ,

TEST STAGES OF MPN METHOD

PRESUMPTIVE TEST The presumptive test provides a preliminary estimate of bacterial density present in a test sample based on enrichment in minimally restrictive tube (broth) culture media. It is the first step of the MPN procedure for feacal coliform testing carried out on public health samples including water, milk and food. The original test sample

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, , , ,

MOST PROBABLE NUMBER (MPN) TECHNIQUE

The estimation of the number of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi present in public health sample including water, food, beverage, or other products is one of the major tasks of microbiologists especially those working in water treatment plants, food industries and in other government public health establishments. After isolation and estimating the number of microorganisms

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, ,

INDICATOR ORGANISMS

Indicator organisms are microorganisms that signify the possible contamination of food or food products as well as other materials or environment. They are organisms whose presence in a material or environment serves to indicate the condition or quality of the material or environment. To meet the local and internationally established microbiological criteria for safe and

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Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Food Microbiology,

MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY 

Water quality is defined as the suitability of water to sustain various uses or processes without causing any untoward effect to its users. Several human and natural factors influences the quality of water available for many industrial and domestic applications; and thus it is vital to continuously monitor water for various uses and processes –

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Food Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, , ,

ACTIVE AIR MONITORING

Active air monitoring also involve the use of settle plates or sedimentation culture plates (as is applicable in passive air sampling) and contact plates for the monitoring of air quality. It involves extracting a set volume of air within a given environment into a calibrated sampler which is then passed onto the surface on an

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Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Food Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, , , , , ,