week 1 slides

These flashcards cover key concepts related to biosafety levels, the ubiquity of microorganisms, contamination, and aseptic techniques in a laboratory setting.

Biosafety Level 1 (BSL 1)

Microorganisms not known to cause disease in healthy adults, e.g., Bacillus subtilis.

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL 2)

Indigenous microorganisms that can cause diseases of varying severity in healthy adults, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus.

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL 3)

Indigenous or exotic microorganisms causing serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory transmission, e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Biosafety Level 4 (BSL 4)

Exotic microorganisms posing a high risk of aerosol transmitted infections, with rare treatments or vaccines available, e.g., Ebola virus.

Ubiquity of Microorganisms

Microbes are found in all environments, including soil, water, and the atmosphere.

Contamination

The undesired introduction of impurities like microbes into items such as countertop, food, or water.

Aseptic Technique

A set of practices performed under controlled conditions to minimize contamination by microbes.

Flaming the Loop

A technique used to sterilize the inoculating loop before using it on cultures.

Sterilization of Culture Tube

A process of sterilizing the mouth of a culture tube before and after inserting the inoculating loop.

Streak Plating

A method used to isolate a pure strain from a single species of microorganism.