BIOLOGY 2420
STUDY GUIDE FOR LAB PRACTICALS
Fall 2011
EXERCISE
MICROSCOPY (brightfield, darkfield, phase-contrast)
uses
parts and functions
total magnification determination
features:
parfocal lens alignment
resolution (and ways to increase it)
refraction and oil immersion
magnification
PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS
shapes and arrangements of bacteria
how to make a wet mount vs. a stained smear
advantages/disadvantages of each
ECTOPARASITES
examples within the Arachnid and Insect classes
differences
HELMINTHS
representative groups of worms as distinguished on microscope
general features of worms in each phylum: platyhelminthes vs. nematodes
the 2 classes of platyhelminthes: cestodes vs. trematodes
FUNGI
structural differences between yeasts and molds - morphology
asexual vs. sexual spores for yeasts and molds (not specific spore names)
the major classes of fungi - differentiation and examples seen in lab
representative groups of fungi as distinguished on microscope
PROTOZOA
representative protozoa seen in lab, as distinguished on microscope
general features of protozoa as a whole and each class
UBIQUITY OF BACTERIA
shapes of bacteria
TRANSFER OF BACTERIA
advantages/disadvantages of broth vs. agar slant vs. agar plate
transfer methods
PURE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
procedure for types of isolation techniques–pours and streak plates
pros and cons of each technique
streak/pour technique and why done that way
SIMPLE STAINING & SMEAR PREPARATION
simple vs. differential stain
types of dyes - acidic vs. basic - why they bind to the cell
GRAM STAIN
reagents & procedure
interpretation of reaction, shape, and arrangement
why incorrect results
SPORE STAIN
reagents & interpretation
example of spore formers
ACID-FAST STAIN
reagents & interpretation
example of acid-fast bacteria
MOTILITY (flagella stain, SIM, TTC motility, hanging drops)
true vs. false motility (Brownian movement)
example of flagellation types
interpretation of motility in TTC media
CAPSULE STAINS
interpretation
PIPETTING & DILUTIONS
solving dilution problems
use (and reading) of the pipette
COUNTING BACTERIA - STANDARD PLATE COUNT & TURBIDEMETRY
determination of bacterial counts in a specimen
use of spectrophotometer (basics of what it is reading)
use of a graph to quesstimate bacterial counts
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES: pH, osmotic pressure
effects of pH, and osmotic pressure on life
effect of hypertonic media on growth
halophiles/osmophiles
UV LIGHT
mechanism of kill
limitations of UV kill
EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH
classification based on optimal temperatures
KIRBY-BAUER TEST FOR ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITIES
zones of inhibition
determination of S, R, and I (with a chart)
ANAEROBES
ways to culture according to oxygen needs
candle jar vs. GasPak jar - how they work, what atmosphere
thioglycollate broth
classification of microbes according to oxygen needs
BIOCHEMICAL TESTS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA
For the following tests–the medium used, purpose, interpretation (+ vs. -), reagent used
gelatin hydrolysis
sugar use (phenol red sugars)
IMViC tests
MRVP (methyl red and Voges-Proskauer tests)
indole production
citrate utilization
nitrate reduction
catalase test
oxidase test
starch hydrolysis
lipid hydrolysis
casein hydrolysis
indole test (in SIM)
urea hydrolysis
hydrogen sulfide
phenylalanine deamination,
arginine/lysine/ornithine decarboxylases
litmus milk
API20E
pros and cons
uses
STAPHYLOCOCCUS ID
tests for differentiating the genus Staph and its species
For any tests/media–purpose, interpretation (+ vs. -), reagent used
hemolytic reactions on blood agar
STREPTOCOCCUS ID
tests for differentiating the genus Strep and its species
For any media/tests run–purpose, interpretation (+ vs. -), reagent used
hemolytic reactions on blood agar
BACTERIOPHAGES
the major points in technique and reasoning
lytic vs. lysogenic infection
determination of number of viruses/ml
plaques
SEROLOGICAL LATEX SLIDE AGGLUTINATION: STAPH, STREP, and MONOSPOT
basics of the antigen-antibody test
purpose of the latex beads
interpretation
URINE CULTURE
the bacterial counts that indicate a urinary tract infection
bacterial found in urine
CAN and EMB media
how to obtain a midstream clean catch urine specimen
calculating bacterial numbers in a urine specimen