Key Concepts for Microbiology Exam

Key Concepts to Review

  • Identifying Pictures: Be prepared to recognize relevant images from the course.

  • Understanding Test Results:

    • Read and interpret test results effectively.
    • Familiarize with results from class lab videos.
    • Calculate MPN from provided tables, memorization is not required.

  • Coliforms:

    • Important bacterial indicators in microbiological testing.

  • Types of Agar:

    • EMB Agar: Eosin Methylene Blue, selective for Gram-negative bacteria.
    • MAC Agar: MacConkey Agar, selective for Gram-negative and differentiates lactose fermenters.
    • MSA Agar: Mannitol Salt Agar, selective for staphylococci; differentiates mannitol fermenters.
    • Blood Agar: Enriched for fastidious organisms and can show hemolysis.
    • SPS Agar: Sodium Polymyxin Sulfate; selective medium for certain bacteria.
    • Chocolate Agar: Enriched agar for growing fastidious organisms, heat-treated blood.

  • Staphylococcus Testing:

    • Rabbit Plasma Coagulase is used for identifying specific characteristics of Staphylococcus.

  • Enteric Tests:

    • Know results associated with various agar plates used in Enterics lab.
    • Tests for coliforms generally include three specific biochemical assessments.

  • Biochemical Tests:

    • Memorize substrates/reagents, enzymes, indicators, by-products, and reactions relevant to different tests.
    • Understand why each test reacts based on the media composition.

  • Diseases Caused by Enterics:

    • Familiarize with diseases linked to Enterobacteriaceae.

  • Counting Techniques:

    • Know if presumptive tests and water membrane filtration techniques yield direct counts or estimations.

  • Gram Staining and Morphology:

    • Enterics and Pseudomonas morphology, differences between them.
    • Gram stain characteristics of Neisseria and Clostridium.

  • Staphylococcus vs. Streptococcus:

    • Understand inherent differences and similarities.
    • Learn about different hemolytic groups of Streptococcus and their significance.
    • Identify the most virulent Streptococcus species.

  • Anaerobic Techniques:

    • Differences between candle jars and Brewer’s jars in culturing environments.
    • Recognize how the anaerobic indicator changes in a candle jar when closed.

  • Mycelia:

    • Definition and identification of mycelia.

  • Unicellular Eukaryotes:

    • Acknowledge which eukaryotic organisms are unicellular.

  • Vectors:

    • Understand differences in vectors for African sleeping sickness and Malaria.

  • Parasite Identification:

    • Identify diagnostic features of parasites based on provided information.
    • Be familiar with tapeworm proglottids; their structure and role.

  • Fungi Phyla Examples:

    • Review and categorize examples from each fungal phyla to enhance understanding.