CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES OF ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics including antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, antiprotozoal agents, and antifungal agents have some specific characteristics that distinguish them from other antimicrobial agents that are used for the treatment of microbial infections as well as in the control of microbes on inanimate surfaces. Some of these features are highlighted in this unit. References Ashutosh Kar (2008). […]

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Antibiotic Resistance / Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics, , ,

STEPS OF PERFORMING GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Gel electrophoresis is one type of electrophoresis technique, and its procedure is highlighted below. The following materials and steps and steps are employed in gel electrophoresis technique:  In some agarose gel experimentation, ethidium bromide (EtBr) solution is added alongside the DNA solution to be analyzed. However, the EtBr is usually added to the prepared gel

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Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology, , , ,

MALARIA

Malaria is an insect-transmitted parasitic disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and anaemia (loss of blood) in some cases caused by the Plasmodium species which is usually transmitted between mammals through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. It is a disease condition in human beings whereby there is an abnormally high body temperature

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Public Health & Parasitic Diseases (Parasitology), , ,

Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) Test

The LAL test is applied in the testing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, water, food, and air because of its high sensitivity and specificity for endotoxins of Gram negative bacteria. LAL test is used for the quality control of pharmaceutical/medical parenteral preparations. The observation that the haemolymph (blood)of the Horseshoe crab can form clot in the

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Food Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, , , , , , , , , ,

REASONS FOR DOING CELL CULTURE

Why is cell, tissue or organ culture embarked upon despite the ethical issues surrounding its development, acceptance and usage? Cell culture has application in a variety of biomedical sciences and even in the industry. It has become one of the major tools used in the life sciences world over. Its application has greatly revolutionized the

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Cell Culture Notes, ,

OBSERVATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Observational epidemiological studies are non-experimental epidemiological investigations that involves no intervention by the researcher (in this case the epidemiologist) other than carrying out medical and laboratory examinations and probably asking questions about the issue at hand. In this type of epidemiological study, nature is allowed to take its full course while the researcher only observes

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Epidemiology, , ,

DENTAL CARIES

Dental caries is simply defined as the decaying of the teeth. It can also be called dental decay. Dental caries or dental decay is a gradual disintegration of the teeth beginning from the tooth surface and progressing inwards. And it is usually initiated by microbial activity going on around the tooth surface. Dental caries include

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Microbiology of Oral Infection, , , , , , , , ,

GRAM STAINING TECHNIQUE

Gram staining is a general purpose bacteriological identification technique used in the bacteriology section of the microbiology laboratory to identify and differentiate bacteria into two groups i.e. Gram-positive and Gram-negative. It was discovered by Christian Gram (1853-1938), a Danish scientist in 1884. Christian Gram showed that the cells of some bacteria could be easily decolorized

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Microbe Lab, Bacteriology, Techniques in Microbiology Lab, , , , , , , , , ,

FUNGAL TAXONOMY (DIVISION)

Fungal classification or taxonomy is usually based on the sexual spores produced by the organisms. This is because the asexual forms of most fungi especially those that are of medical importance are not well known; and those groups of fungi that are of medical importance are sexual spore producers. The kingdom fungi comprise of four

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Mycology, , , , , ,

NITRATE REDUCTION TEST

Nitrate reduction test is used to identify pathogenic bacteria that have the ability to convert nitrate (NO3–) to nitrite (NO2–).  Nitrate reduction test is used for the differentiation of members of Enterobacteriaceae on the basis of their ability to produce nitrate reductase enzyme – that hydrolyze nitrate (NO3–) to nitrite (NO2–), which may then again be

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Biochemical Tests in Microbiology Lab, , , , ,