Unknown Microbiology

There are several different medical reasons for identifying microorganisms. The reasons may vary from having to know the causative agent of a disease in a patient to be able to treat and care for them properly, to knowing the correct microorganism to be used for making certain antibiotics as well as proper dosages, down to knowing all microbes associated with consumed foods such as plants and animals in case of an allergen or a contamination outbreak. This analysis was done by utilizing all of the proper methods taught thus far in the microbiology laboratory for the identification of two unknown bacteria. An unknown labeled as number 3 was given out by the lab instructor. The methods that have been lectured and absorbed pertaining to identifying …show more content…
This needed to be done to pertain pure isolation for each of the unknown microorganisms. After both plates were properly inoculated and incubated at 37C for 24- 48 hours, and two separate morphologies were then observed and recorded, unknown A and unknown B, a Gram stain was then performed for each unknown. After determining the Gram reaction, alternate staining procedures were performed as needed. Unknown A required further endospore staining, whereas unknown B required no further staining procedures. Once all staining methods were complete, specific biochemical tests were performed. The biochemical tests were chosen from the unknown identification tables and dichotomous keys that were given in the lab manual. Since unknown A was determined to be a Gram positive rod and an endospore producer, the genus Bacillus was then concluded. Unknown A bacteria was then inoculated into a lactose fermentation broth tube and a mannitol fermentation broth tube for further testing of the species. Note, all of these tests were performed by the methods listed in the lab manual (171-173). All of the following biochemical tests were perform on unknown