Module 08: Controlling Microbial Growth in Vitro Flashcards
(160 cards)
What are the factors that affect microbial growth?
(1) Availability of Nutrients
(2) Moisture
(3) Temperature
(4) pH (acidity and alkalinity)
(5) Osmotic pressure and salinity
(6) Barometric pressure
(7) Gaseous atmosphere
All living organisms require this to sustain life. They are known as energy sources.
Nutrients
How do organisms obtain energy?
Organisms obtain energy by breaking chemical bonds.
Under moisture, this is known as an essential for life. It is needed to carry out normal metabolic processes.
Water
What are certain microbial stages that can survive the drying process (desiccation)?
(1) Bacterial Endospores
(2) Protozoal Cysts
How does temperature affect microbial growth?
Every organism has an optimum growth temperature. The temperature (and pH) ranges over which an organism grows best are largely determined by the optimum temperature and pH ranges of its enzymes.
These are organisms that grow best at high temperatures.
Thermophiles
These are microbes that grow best at moderate temperatures (eg. 37 degrees Celsius, human body temperature).
Mesophiles (found in warm soil and water like plants and animals)
These are microbes that prefer cold temperatures (like deep ocean water).
Psychrophiles
This is a particular group of psychrophiles, prefer refrigerator temperature (4 degrees Celsius) like bread molds.
Psychrotrophs
These prefer warm temperatures but can endure very cold or even freezing temperatures. They can also be preserved in freezing temperatures.
Psychroduric organisms
This refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
pH
What pH do most microorganisms prefer?
A neutral or slightly alkaline growth medium (pH 7.0 to 7,4)
These type of microorganisms prefer a pH of 2 to 5. They thrive in highly acidic environments, such created by sulfurous gases in hydrothermal vents and hot springs.
Acidophiles (eg fungi)
These type of microorganisms prefer a pH of >8.5.
Alkaliphiles (such as those in the intestine ph 9 and soda lakes along with soils laden with carbonate)
This is the pressure that is exerted on a cell membrane by solutions both inside and outside the cell.
Osmotic pressure
This is the movement of a solvent, through a permeable membrane, from lower concentration of solutes (dissolved substances) to a higher concentration of solutes.
Osmosis
When the concentration of solutions in the external environment is greater than that of the solutes inside the cell, the solution in which the cell is suspended is said to be what?
Hypertonic
This is a condition in which the cell membrane and the cytoplasm of a cell shrink away from the cell wall.
Plasmolysis (this occurs when a bacteria with a rigid cell walls are placed in a hypertonic solution - so this can inhibit microbial growth and multiplication)
When the concentration of solutes outside a cell is less than that of solutes inside a cell, the solution in which the cell is suspended is said to be what?
Hypotonic
If a bacterial cell is placed into a hypotonic solution, it may not burst. If it does burst, the cytoplasm escapes, this process is known as what?
Plasmoptysis
Why doesn’t the bacterial cell burst when placed in a hypotonic solution?
Because of the rigid cell wall (plants and bacteria)
A solution is said to be this when the concentration of the solutes outside a cell is equal to the concentration of solutes inside the cell.
Isotonic (normal turgor)
Organisms that prefer to live in salty environments are called what?
Halophilic organisms (vibrio cholerae)