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Laboratory Schedule Spring 2000

Fundamentals of Microbiology MCB 229

Lab Week

Dates

Exercises

Extra visits needed for:

Jan 26

No labs this week

1

Feb 1-2

1. Orientation (pp. 1-3).
   
2. Inoculate media to study distribution of microbes (p. 15). Follow PERIOD I procedure.
   
3. Learn some basic microbiological procedures:
   
   • aseptic technique (p. 5 and diagram on p. 7).
     
   • how to isolate bacteria by streak plate technique (p. 9).
     
   • use of the microscope (pp. 21-28).
     
   • proper drawing technique (p. 14).
     
4. Prepare slides by Gram staining and observe in microscope (p. 13).
   

2

Feb 8-9

1. Study Fungi: molds and yeasts (p. 31). Follow procedure on p. 33.
2. Inoculate Culture Media (p. 37). Follow PERIOD I procedure on pp. 40-41.
3. Gram stain challenge. Identify morphology of the unknown organism your instructor gives you.

Follow-up

1. Evaluate distribution of microbes. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 16.
2. Streak plate: examine last week s plate with instructor. Streak a new plate (p. 9).

3

Feb 15-16

1. Examine cultures for presence of endospores (p. 45). Follow procedure on pp. 46-47.
2. Control of Microbial Growth (p. 57). Follow PERIOD I procedures for handwashing (p. 58), disinfectants (p. 58), and UV (p. 60)

Follow-up

1. Examine various culture media inoculated last week. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 41.
2. Streak plate: examine last week's plate with instructor. If your technique needs improving, streak a new plate. (p. 9)

4

Feb 22-23

1. Inoculate tubes to measure fermentation and nitrate reduction (p. 67). Follow PERIOD I procedure on p. 69.
2. Inoculate media to test for anaerobic growth (p. 73). Follow PERIOD I procedure on pp. 75-76.

Follow-up

1. Control of Microbial Growth. Follow PERIOD II procedures for handwashing (p. 58), disinfectants (p. 59), and UV (pp. 60-61)
2. Examine endospore test cultures. Optional: If growth occurred, test for endospores by spore stain (p. 47).

1. Fermentation: Return within 2-3 days to evaluate fermentation tests. Follow PERIOD II procedure on pp. 69-70.

5

Feb 29-Mar 1

1. Receive unknown mixed culture and streak (p. 85). Follow steps 1-3 on pp. 85-86.
2. Inoculate media to study enzymes (p. 79). Follow PERIOD I procedure on pp.80-81.
3. Examine bacterial motility (p. 51). Follow PERIOD I procedure on p. 53.

Follow-up

1. Evaluate tubes for fermentation and nitrate reduction. Follow PERIOD III procedure on p. 70.
2. Evaluate anaerobic growth. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 76.

1. Unknowns: return 1-2 days later to examine unknown plates, separate different colony types by streaking isolates on fresh plates (steps 3-4 on p. 86). Return 1-3 days later to make slants of pure cultures, refrigerate plates.

6

Mar 7-8

1. No new exercises
2. (Optional) Take plastic bag to collect soil sample for next week s lab (only need a few grams)

Follow-up

1. Inoculate media to identify unknown cultures. Prepare slides and examine isolated unknowns by gram stain. Follow steps 5-6 on pp. 86-87.
2. Evaluate media inoculated to detect enzymes. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 81.
3. Examine tubes of motility agar. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 53.

1. Unknowns: Return as needed to examine media inoculate for unknown cultures.

7

Mar 14-15

1. Carry out dilution series and plate samples to measure bacterial concentrations in soil (p. 91) Follow PERIOD I procedure on p. 92, using diagram on p. 93. (Note: TAs will refrigerate plates for follow-up after break).

Follow-up

1. Carry out any final tests on unknown (p. 85). Hand in report on identification of unknowns by Friday noon, Mar. 17.

1. Unknowns: Return as needed to examine media inoculate for unknown cultures.

Mar 21-22

Spring Break

8

Mar 28-29

1. Bacterial Scavenger Hunt (p. 97). Choose up to seven organisms to isolate, prepare initial inoculations.
2. Water Testing (p. 125). Follow PERIOD I procedure on p. 127.

Follow-up

1. Count soil dilution plates with appropriate colony numbers. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 93. Calculate bacterial CFU in undiluted soil samples. Post data on board and collect class data.
   

1. Scavenger Hunt. return as needed to check cultures, transfer to fresh media.
2. Water testing. Return in 1-3 days for PERIOD II follow-up (p. 127).

9

Apr 4-5

1. 1. Mutant Hunt (p. 107). Follow PERIOD I procedure on pp. 109-110.

Follow-up

1. Bacterial Scavenger Hunt (p. 97). Check results with your TA. Continue working on isolations.
2. Water Testing. Follow PERIOD III procedure on p. 128.

1. Scavenger Hunt. return as needed to check cultures, transfer to fresh media.

10

Apr 11-12

1. 1. Bacteriophages (p. 113). Follow procedure on pp.114-115.
2. Antibiotics (p. 119). Follow PERIOD I procedure on p. 121. Incubate one week in 20° C incubator.

Follow-up

1. Mutant Hunt. Follow PERIOD II procedure on p. 109.
2. Bacterial Scavenger Hunt (p. 97). Check results with your TA. Continue working on isolations.

1. Phages: Return in 24 h to count phage plaques.
2. Mutants: Return in 24 h to count mutants.

Note: if returning is not possible, arrange for TA to incubate & refrigerate plates to next class.

11

Apr 18-19

No new activities today

Follow-up

1. Antibiotics. Follow PERIOD II procedure on pp. 121-122.
2. Bacterial Scavenger Hunt (p. 97). Check results with your TA. Continue working on isolations.

1. TAs will collect antibiotic assay plates, incubate 2 days and refrigerate till next period.
2. Scavenger hunt: return as needed.

12

Apr 25-26

1. Microbiota (p. 131). Follow PERIOD I procedure on pp. 133-134.
2. Food Testing (p. 141). Carry out activities on flow chart (p. 144) as described on pp. 142-143.

Follow-up

1. Bacterial Scavenger Hunt (p. 97). Hand in report.
2. Antibiotics. Follow PERIOD III procedure on p. 122.

13

May 2-3

No new activities today.

Follow-up:

1. Microbiota. Follow PERIOD II procedure on pp. 134-135

2. Food Testing (pp. 141-144). Measure growth.

May 9

Last day of classes. No labs this week.

All lab reports due by noon on Thurs., May 11.