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 […]
MICROBIOLOGY OF THE SOIL Read More »
Environmental & Soil Microbiology
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
MEMBRANE FILTRATION TECHNIQUE Read More »
Environmental & Soil Microbiology, Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
In the microbiology laboratory, pure cultures of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) are critical to the success of the next stages of the experiment to be undertaken. Thus, selective isolation of bacteria from samples (especially those suspected to contain mix bacteria) is usually performed in two steps: The discovery of selenite F broth as an enrichment medium
AIM: To isolate organism from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen as an aid in the diagnosis of cerebrospinal meningitis and other microbial infection of the CSF. MATERIAL/APPARATUS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen, blood agar (BA), chocolate agar (CA), Bunsen burner, inoculating loop, incubator, anaerobic jar, MacConkey agar (MCA). NOTE: The CSF specimen should be collected only by
CULTURE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) Read More »
Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
AIM: To detect the presence of pus cells and predominant bacteria in sputum specimens as an aid in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia or bronchopneumonia. MATERIAL/APPARATUS: Sputum specimen, glass slide, microscope, immersion oil, inoculating loop, Bunsen burner, piece of stick. METHOD/PROCEDURE FOR SPUTUM SAMPLE MICROSCOPY REPORTING OF THE RESULT: Describe and
MICROSCOPY OF SPUTUM SPECIMEN Read More »
Techniques in Microbiology Lab, Microbe Lab
Lichen is simply a symbiotic association of slow-growing microorganisms that is composed mainly of a fungus and cyanobacteria or green algae. They are a composition of twin or double organisms, and are very rich in chemical compounds as expressed by the varying colours that they produce on the surfaces where they form. Lichens grow on
LICHENS AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Read More »
Mycology
Fungal infection is treated using antifungal drugs. Some of the drugs used for the treatment of mycoses in humans include: PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS The prevention and control of mycoses is largely dependent on avoiding exposure to fungal spores or conidia and limiting contact with natural reservoirs of most fungal organisms. An intact
TREATMENT & PREVENTION OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS Read More »
Mycology
Flagella (singular: flagellum) are the organelles of locomotion or movement in prokaryotic cells. Microbial motility is a key feature for motile bacteria, and this characteristic allows organisms to move from one location to another in search of food or away from potential attacks in their normal habitat. Flagella are thread-like slender-looking and rigid structures that
BACTERIAL FLAGELLATION Read More »
Microbial Physiology & Metabolism
Capsules are extracellular polysaccharide (ESP) molecules secreted by bacteria, and which are normally found outside the cell wall of the microbial cell. They are densed and well-defined layers that surround bacterial cells and confer on them some benefits such as resistance to unfavorable conditions (Figure 1). Capsules perform several biological functions in bacteria. Some of
BACTERIAL CAPSULE Read More »
Microbial Physiology & Metabolism
 Recombinant DNA technology and the use of synthetic DNA molecules make it possible for molecular biology scientists to induce specific mutations in specific genes. In vitro mutagenesis is used to purposefully change genetic information. The analysis of the subsequent changes in gene expression and gene products helps elucidate the functional effect of the mutation.
APPLICATIONS OF MUTAGENESIS Read More »
Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology