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Nutritional Requirements
All
living organisms require nutrients to grow. get their nutrients in the form of chemical elements which exist in nature as either organic or inorganic compounds.
Microorganisms
Nutrients
Carbon
Used in the creation of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Nitrogen Utilised in amino acids, which make up proteins. Hydrogen and Oxygen Generally make up the organic compounds that are ingested or absorbed.
Nutrients
Sulphur
Important with regards to amino acids. Phosphorus Important with regards to adenosine triphosphate and nucleic acids. Other elements are also required for the nutrition of microorganisms but in smaller quantities.
- Obtain the majority of their carbon as organic compounds by either directly absorbing it through the environment or by ingesting other heterotrophs or autotrophs. Autotrophs -Obtain their carbon source as inorganic elements through the environment.
Obtain their energy from chemical compounds. Phototrophs Obtain the majority of their energy from a light source. Some organisms cant be classified solely as a chemotroph or a phototroph as they have the ability to adapt to the surrounds eg R. rubrum
Selective Media
Encourage
growth of specific types of microorganisms growth of specific microorganisms used for both of the above
Inhibits
Sometimes
purposes.
Differential Media
Can
grow more than one type of microorganism Can compare one type to another Varying appearance of microorganisms on the media For example one type may react with the media and turn blue while another type may appear purple
Differential Example
To the right is a photograph of different bacterium grown on differential media E. coli - blue E. aerogenes - purple P.aeruginosa - yellow
growth can be limited by altering one or all of the following to a level that the organism will not thrive in; Temperature pH Gaseous Atmosphere Osmotic Pressure
Temperature
Psychrophiles
organisms that grow best between 15C 20C Mesophiles organisms that grow best between 25C 40C Thermophiles organisms that grow best between 25C 40C
Above - Microorganisms can be classified based on the temperature at which they thrive
Gaseous Atmosphere
Aerobic
Typically require oxygen at levels of 21% Anaerobic Don t require oxygen Faculative Can grow both aerobically and anaerobically Microaerophilic Typically require oxygen at levels of 1 15%
Above - Classification of microorganisms based on gaseous oxygen levels at which the microorganism can grow.
antimicrobial agents to media will inhibit the growth of specific organisms. - Media to which Colistin and Nalidixic acid have been added will inhibit gramgram-negative bacteria growth but promote Gram-positive cocci growth. Gram-
Example
Iodine
Kills
skin Presence of organic material decreases effectiveness of iodine to kill endospores Eliminate organic material to increase rate at which iodine will kill endospores Mode of action: Damages metabolic compounds
Formaldehyde Gas
Kills
bacteria and endospores in enclosed areas Kills vegetative cells quicker To be effective temperature must be 22C 22 Humidity needs to be approximately 6060-80% Mode of action: Inactivates nucleic acids and proteins.
Phenolic Compounds
Bacteriostatic
(Inhibits growth but does not kill)
at low
concentrations Bactericidal (Kills) at higher concentrations Mode of action: Damages Cytoplasmic Membrane
Can work by affecting the Peptidoglycan in the Cell Wall Inhibits crosslinks from forming in Peptidoglycan Peptidoglycan loses rigidity Causing cell to absorb water Cell splits and dies Penicillins and Cephalosporins - antibiotics that work by targeting the Cell Wall
antibiotics kill pathogens by affecting the Cytoplasmic Membrane Alters the permeability of Phospholipids in the Cytoplasmic Membrane Causes leaking of vital substances from the cell resulting in death Polymyxins antibiotics that work by targeting the Cytoplasmic Membrane
Mutant cells that are non-responsive to the nonantibiotic. Wrong type of antibiotic used for the specific pathogen. Cells passing on antibiotic resistance to other cells through genes. Increased use of antibiotics increases the risk of antibiotic resistant pathogens forming.