Microbiology

Fresh Mounting Techniques

Wet Mounting:
- Two general methods: Wet Mounting and
Hanging Drop Techniques.
- Advantages:
1. Allows observation of microorganism
morphology in their living state.
2. Facilitates the determination of motility.
3. Enables monitoring of cytological
changes during cell division, spore
formation, and germination.
4. Some cell inclusion bodies can be
observed.
- When using bright field microscopy, adjust
light intensity for better visibility since living
cells are nearly transparent.

Protozoa:
1. Place a drop of hay infusion in the center
of a clean glass slide.
2. Cover with a cover slip.
3. Observe under the microscope, starting
with low power, then high power objectives.
4. Identify and draw observed protozoa.

Fungi
1. Add a drop of water to the center of a
clean glass slide.
2. Aseptically obtain a portion of the colony
near the margin of fungal growth using a
sterile inoculating wire.
3. Transfer the sample onto the glass slide
and cover with a cover slip.
4. Examine under the microscope.
5. Draw and label parts of the observed
fungus.

Bacteria (Hanging Drop Technique)

1. Place a drop of water in the center of a
cover slip.
2. Aseptically transfer a loopful of bacterial
culture to the center of the cover slip using
an inoculating wire.
3. Invert the cover slip over the concave
depression of a depression slide to create a
hanging drop.
4. Observe under the microscope.
5. Draw the bacteria and indicate their
direction of movement.