PHA 046: PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY

Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Exercise No. 6
CULTIVATION OF BACTERIA MICROBES IN THE ENVIRONMENT
I. INTRODUCTION

Microorganisms are found everywhere. Microbes found in the environment are generally thought to consist of:
bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses. Microbial growth is affected by many different environmental factors,
including the availability of nutrients and moisture, temperature pH, osmotic pressure, barometric pressure, and composition
of the atmosphere. These environmental factors affect microorganisms in our daily lives.

Bacteria cultivation is a biological activity wherein microorganisms multiply themselves in a predetermined culture
media under laboratory conditions. Whereas microbial culture media are used to identify the type of microorganisms and
their abundance in culture media are being tested.

Objective: At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to:

1. Describe the bacterial colonial morphology by using accepted descriptive terms

II. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE

Nutrient agar plate, cotton swabs, disinfectant

Procedures

1. Look for two (2) environmental surface you want to test for presence of microorganisms (door knob, table, chair,
phone etc).
2. Inoculate a plate from an environmental surface by wetting the cotton swab with sterile water, swabbing the
environmental surface, and then the surface of the agar.
3. Swab in the agar plate in zigzag motion. Make sure the petri dish is just slightly open enough to allow you to swab.
DO NOT FULLY SEPARATE THE COVER FROM THE DISH.
4. After inoculation, discard the swab in container of disinfectant.
5. Incubate the plate in an inverted position so the water will condense on the lid instead of on the surface of the agar.
6. Incubate it in upright at 37°C for 18 to 24 hours
7. Observe and describe the resulting growth of the plates. Note each colony using the characteristics below.
8. Determine the approximate number of each type of colony
9. Discard all used material properly.

PHA 046: Laboratory Activity Sheet 6 1

PHA 046: PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY
References:

Tiburcio, Ma and Cardona, Carmelita; Laboratory Manual in Bacteriology (outcomes-based education program); C & E Publishing, Inc., 2015
Bognot F. L, Goce E. E., Munoz, D. S., Gonzales, R. S., Mergal Z. F. (2010). Laboratory Manual in Microbiology and Parasitology for Allied Medi cal
Courses. 2nd Edition. C & E Publishing Inc.
Grino M and del Rosario G. Pharmaceutical Microbiology. Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice Modules Series 1. University of t he
Philippines-Manila

III. ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Attach pictures and label accordingly

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Environmental surface: _____________________________________

APPEARANCE
No. of colonies with
Form Color Margin Elevation similar appearance

Colony 1

Colony 2

Colony 3

Environmental surface: _____________________________________

APPEARANCE
No. of colonies with
Form Color Margin Elevation similar appearance

Colony 1

Colony 2

Colony 3

1. What is the minimum number of distinct bacteria present in your plate? How do you know?

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2. Did all the organisms living in and on the environment sample grow in your nutrient agar? Explain briefly.

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PHA 046: Laboratory Activity Sheet 6 2

PHA 046: PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY

QUESTION FOR RESEARCH

1. What is the important use of Petri dishes in microbiology?

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Reference:

CONCLUSIONS

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PHA 046: Laboratory Activity Sheet 6 3