Physical & Chemical effects

on Bacterial growth

Temperature
pH level
osmotic pressure
 .
Minimum: factor content below which the
growth of microorganism is inhibited

Optimum: factor content in which the growth

of microorganism is the best ( generation time,
metabolic activity)

Maximum: factor content over which

microorganism do not growth
 Temperature
High temperatures damage microbes by
denaturing enzymes, transport carriers, and
other proteins.
Microbial membrane are disrupted by
temperature extremes.
At very low temperatures membranes also
solidify and enzymes also do not function
properly
TDP: thermal death point
TDY: thermal death time
 Growth temp
Minimum growth temperature The
lowest temperature at which
organisms grow is the minimum
growth temperature.
Optimum growth temperature The
temperature at which the most rapid
rate of multiplication occurs.
Maximum growth temperature The
highest temperature at which growth
occurs.
Psychrophiles/cryophiles

Extremophilic organisms that

are capable of growth and
reproduction in cold
temperatures, temperature
range: −20°C to +10°C.
 Psychrotrophs
Cold‐tolerant bacteria.
Have optimal and maximal growth
temperatures above 15 and 20°C,
respectively.
Psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi
are the principal cause of spoilage
of refrigerated food.
Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Clostridium
 Mesophiles
Grows best in moderate
temperature.
Temperature range: 20°C to
45°C.
Escherichia coli, Streptococcus
pneumoniae
 Thermophiles

Heat-loving microorganisms.
Grow at 50°C or higher.
Their growth minimum is usually
around 45°C and often optima
between 50 and 80°C.
Thermus aquaticus
 Hyperthermophiles
Thrives in extremely hot
environments. Temperature range:
80°C to 113°C.
The cell membrane contains high
levels of saturated fatty acids to
retain its shape at high
temperatures
Methanococcus, Thermotoga.
Classification based upon PH
requirements
Acidophiles- pH (0 - 5.5). Thiobacillus
thioxidans, lactic acid and acetic acid
bacteria, (Lactococcus).
Alkalophiles- pH (7.5- 14). Bacillus,
alkaline tolerant (Alkaligenes faecalis).
Neutrophiles- pH (5.5-8.0), E. coli,
Pseudomonas aerunginosa
Bacteria prefer media of pH near
neutrality, and usually cannot tolerate pH
values much below 4-5.
 Osmotic pressure

Osmotic pressure is the minimum

pressure which needs to be applied
to a solution to prevent the inward
flow of water
Types of solution: Hypotonic ,
Isotonic Hypertonic
Water activity of a solution is 1/100
the relative humidity of the solution.
 Classification of bacteria
according to osmotic pressure

1. Osmotolerant are those microorganisms

which can grow at relatively high salt
concentration. Staphylococcus sp.

2. Halophiles- Grow in the presence of salt at

conc (15-30%).
Halobacterium halobium
3. osmophiles
 Disinfectant and
Antiseptics
Antiseptic: relating to or denoting
substances that prevent the growth of
disease-causing microorganisms

Disinfectant: antimicrobial agents that

are applied to the surface of non-living
objects to destroy microorganisms that
are living on the objects.