MICROSCOPE

Purpose: Magnifies microorganisms for observation.

Important Parts:

Ocular Lens

  • 10X magnification

Scanning Objective

  • 4X magnification

Low Power Objective

  • 10X magnification

High Power Objective

  • 40X magnification

Oil Immersion Objective

  • 100X magnification

Coarse Adjustment Knob

  • Moves stage up and down significantly

  • Used for initial focusing

Fine Adjustment Knob

  • Fine tunes focus

Stage

  • Holds slide

Condenser

  • Focuses light onto specimen

Iris Diaphragm

  • Controls amount of light

Illuminator

  • Light source

Total Magnification Formula

Total Magnification = Ocular Lens × Objective Lens

Examples:

  • 10 × 4 = 40X

  • 10 × 10 = 100X

  • 10 × 40 = 400X

  • 10 × 100 = 1000X

ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

Purpose: Prevent contamination of cultures, media, and the environment.

Tools:

Inoculating Loop

  • Used for fishtail streaking

  • Used for plate inoculation

Inoculating Needle

  • Used for stab inoculation

  • Used for butt inoculation

Important Steps:

Flame Loop

  • Sterilizes loop before and after use

Flame Tube Opening

  • Reduces contamination

SIMPLE STAIN THEORY

Purpose: Understand how dyes interact with bacterial cells.

Cell Charge:

  • Bacterial cells have a negative charge

Basic Dyes:

  • Positively charged

  • Attracted to bacterial cells

Examples:

  • Crystal violet

  • Methylene blue

Acidic Dyes:

  • Negatively charged

Examples:

  • Nigrosin

  • Congo Red

Result:

  • Opposite charges attract

  • Basic dyes stain bacterial cells

ORGANISM IDENTIFICATION

Escherichia coli

Gram Reaction:

  • Gram Negative

Morphology:

  • Rod

Staphylococcus aureus

Gram Reaction:

  • Gram Positive

Morphology:

  • Cocci in clusters

Micrococcus luteus

Gram Reaction:

  • Gram Positive

Morphology:

  • Cocci in tetrads

Bacillus subtilis

Gram Reaction:

  • Gram Positive

Morphology:

  • Rod

  • Endospore former

Enterobacter aerogenes

Gram Reaction:

  • Gram Negative

Morphology:

  • Rod

LAB TOOLS

Loop

Purpose:

  • Fishtail streaking

  • Plate inoculation

Needle

Purpose:

  • Stab inoculation

  • Butt inoculation

TSI

Tool Used:

  • Needle

Procedure:

  • Stab butt

  • Fishtail streak slant

SIM

Tool Used:

  • Needle

Procedure:

  • Single stab inoculation