Unknown Bacterial Pathogens
My journey to the unknown started about three weeks before the end of my microbiology class at Brunswick Community College. This journey started out with a media plate cultured with an unknown species of bacteria. I was then instructed by my professor to use all of my previous knowledge to identify the unknown bacterial pathogen. This lab led me to master my skills of using the Gram stain, testing for catalase, testing for coagulase and using the oxacillin screen. Now I am going to take you with me on the journey to the unknown.
As I recall from earlier that semester, the first test that needed to be performed was the Gram stain. The Gram stain is a staining technique that aids in distinguishing cell wall characteristics and the cellular morphology. Bacteria will stain Gram positive, which is a purple color, or Gram negative, which is a pink color. Also, the Gram stain can help to identify the shape of the bacterium. The three basic shapes are cocci, bacilli and spirilli, which means that cocci are berry shaped, bacilli are rod shaped and spirilli are spiral shaped. My unknown bacteria stained purple which means that it is Gram-positive and was berry shaped meaning that the bacterium is cocci. These results have led me to the next step for me to master, the catalase test. …show more content…
Catalase is an enzyme that is produced by the Micrococcaceae family to break down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen. A positive result would have the formation of bubbles or froth as where the negative result would not. And to my surprise, my unknown bacteria produced catalase, so now I know that my bacterium is a GPC that is catalase (+). It’s now time for me to master my next skill, the coagulase
As I recall from earlier that semester, the first test that needed to be performed was the Gram stain. The Gram stain is a staining technique that aids in distinguishing cell wall characteristics and the cellular morphology. Bacteria will stain Gram positive, which is a purple color, or Gram negative, which is a pink color. Also, the Gram stain can help to identify the shape of the bacterium. The three basic shapes are cocci, bacilli and spirilli, which means that cocci are berry shaped, bacilli are rod shaped and spirilli are spiral shaped. My unknown bacteria stained purple which means that it is Gram-positive and was berry shaped meaning that the bacterium is cocci. These results have led me to the next step for me to master, the catalase test. …show more content…
Catalase is an enzyme that is produced by the Micrococcaceae family to break down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen. A positive result would have the formation of bubbles or froth as where the negative result would not. And to my surprise, my unknown bacteria produced catalase, so now I know that my bacterium is a GPC that is catalase (+). It’s now time for me to master my next skill, the coagulase