PowerPoint Lecture Presentations prepared by Bradley W. Christian, McLennan Community College C H A P T E R 6 Microbial Growth
The Requirements for Growth Physical requirements Temperature ph Osmotic pressure Chemical requirements Carbon Nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous Trace elements Oxygen Organic growth factors
Physical Requirements Temperature Minimum growth temperature Optimum growth temperature Maximum growth temperature
Physical Requirements Temperature (cont'd) Psychrophiles cold-loving Mesophiles moderate-temperature-loving Thermophiles heat-loving
Figure 6.1 Typical growth rates of different types of microorganisms in response to temperature.
Temperature Psychrotrophs Grow between 0 C and 20 to 30 C Cause food spoilage
Figure 6.2 Food preservation temperatures. F C 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 20 Danger zone 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 Temperatures in this range destroy most microbes, although lower temperatures take more time. Very slow bacterial growth. Rapid growth of bacteria; some may produce toxins. Many bacteria survive; some may grow. Refrigerator temperatures; may allow slow growth of spoilage bacteria, very few pathogens. No significant growth below freezing.
Figure 6.3 The effect of the amount of food on its cooling rate in a refrigerator and its chance of spoilage. 15 cm (6") deep Darker band shows approximate temperature range at which Bacillus cereus multiplies in rice 43ºC 5 cm (2") deep 15ºC Refrigerator air
Temperature Thermophiles Optimum growth temperature of 50 to 60 C Found in hot springs and organic compost Hyperthermophiles Optimum growth temperature >80 C
ph Most bacteria grow between ph 6.5 and 7.5 Molds and yeasts grow between ph 5 and 6 Acidophiles grow in acidic environments
Osmotic Pressure Hypertonic environments (higher in solutes than inside the cell) cause plasmolysis due to high osmotic pressure Extreme or obligate halophiles require high osmotic pressure (high salt) Facultative halophiles tolerate high osmotic pressure
Figure 6.4 Plasmolysis. Plasma membrane Cell wall H 2 O Plasma membrane Cytoplasm Cytoplasm NaCl 0.85% NaCl 10% Cell in isotonic solution. Under these conditions, the solute concentration in the cell is equivalent to a solute concentration of 0.85% sodium chloride (NaCl). Plasmolyzed cell in hypertonic solution. If the concentration of solutes such as NaCl is higher in the surrounding medium than in the cell (the environment is hypertonic), water tends to leave the cell. Growth of the cell is inhibited.
Chemical Requirements Carbon Structural backbone of organic molecules Chemoheterotrophs use organic molecules as energy Autotrophs use CO 2
Chemical Requirements Nitrogen Component of proteins, DNA, and ATP Most bacteria decompose protein material for the nitrogen source Some bacteria use NH 4+ or NO 3 from organic material A few bacteria use N 2 in nitrogen fixation
Chemical Requirements Sulfur Used in amino acids, thiamine, and biotin Most bacteria decompose protein for the sulfur source Some bacteria use SO 2 4 or H 2 S Phosphorus Used in DNA, RNA, and ATP Found in membranes PO 3 4 is a source of phosphorus
Trace Elements Inorganic elements required in small amounts Usually as enzyme cofactors Include iron, copper, molybdenum, and zinc
Oxygen Obligate aerobes require oxygen Facultative anaerobes grow via fermentation or anaerobic respiration when oxygen is not available Obligate anaerobes unable to use oxygen and are harmed by it Aerotolerant anaerobes tolerate but cannot use oxygen Microaerophiles require oxygen concentration lower than air
Table 6.1 The Effect of Oxygen on the Growth of Various Types of Bacteria
Oxygen Singlet oxygen: ( 1 O 2 ) boosted to a higherenergy state and is reactive Superoxide radicals: O 2 Peroxide anion: O 2 2 Hydroxyl radical (OH )
Organic Growth Factors Organic compounds obtained from the environment Vitamins, amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines
Biofilms Microbial communities Form slime or hydrogels that adhere to surfaces Bacteria communicate cell-to-cell via quorum sensing Share nutrients Shelter bacteria from harmful environmental factors
Figure 6.5 Biofilms. Clumps of bacteria adhering to surface Migrating clump of bacteria Surface Water currents Water currents move, as shown by the blue arrow, among pillars of slime formed by the growth of bacteria attached to solid surfaces. This allows efficient access to nutrients and removal of bacterial waste products. Individual slime-forming bacteria or bacteria in clumps of slime detach and move to new locations.
Biofilms Found in digestive system and sewage treatment systems; can clog pipes 1000x resistant to microbicides Involved in 70% of infections Catheters, heart valves, contact lenses, dental caries
Culture Media Culture medium: nutrients prepared for microbial growth Sterile: no living microbes Inoculum: introduction of microbes into a medium Culture: microbes growing in or on a culture medium
Culture Media Agar Complex polysaccharide Used as a solidifying agent for culture media in Petri plates, slants, and deeps Generally not metabolized by microbes Liquefies at 100 C Solidifies at ~40 C
Culture Media Chemically defined media: exact chemical composition is known Fastidious organisms are those that require many growth factors provided in chemically defined media Complex media: extracts and digests of yeasts, meat, or plants; chemical composition varies batch to batch Nutrient broth Nutrient agar
Table 6.2 A Chemically Defined Medium for Growing a Typical Chemoheterotroph, Such as Escherichia coli
Table 6.3 Defined Culture Medium for Leuconostoc mesenteroides
Table 6.4 Composition of Nutrient Agar, a Complex Medium for the Growth of Heterotrophic Bacteria
Anaerobic Growth Media and Methods Reducing media Used for the cultivation of anaerobic bacteria Contain chemicals (sodium thioglycolate) that combine O 2 to deplete it Heated to drive off O 2
Figure 6.6 A jar for cultivating anaerobic bacteria on Petri plates. Lid with O-ring gasket Clamp with clamp screw Envelope containing inorganic carbonate, activated carbon, ascorbic acid, and water CO 2 H2 Anaerobic indicator (methylene blue) Petri plates
Figure 6.7 An anaerobic chamber. Air lock Arm ports
Special Culture Techniques Capnophiles Microbes that require high CO 2 conditions CO 2 packet Candle jar
Special Culture Techniques Biosafety levels BSL-1: no special precautions; basic teaching labs BSL-2: lab coat, gloves, eye protection BSL-3: biosafety cabinets to prevent airborne transmission BSL-4: sealed, negative pressure; "hot zone" Exhaust air is filtered twice through HEPA filters
Figure 6.8 Technicians in a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory.
Selective and Differential Media Selective media Suppress unwanted microbes and encourage desired microbes Contain inhibitors to suppress growth
Selective and Differential Media Differential media Allow distinguishing of colonies of different microbes on the same plate Some media have both selective and differential characteristics
Figure 6.10 Differential medium.
Enrichment Culture Encourages the growth of a desired microbe by increasing very small numbers of a desired organism to detectable levels Usually a liquid
Table 6.5 Culture Media
Obtaining Pure Cultures A pure culture contains only one species or strain A colony is a population of cells arising from a single cell or spore or from a group of attached cells A colony is often called a colony-forming unit (CFU) The streak plate method is used to isolate pure cultures
Figure 6.11 The streak plate method for isolating pure bacterial cultures. Colonies
Preserving Bacterial Cultures Deep-freezing: 50 to 95 C Lyophilization (freeze-drying): frozen ( 54 to 72 C) and dehydrated in a vacuum
Bacterial Division Increase in number of cells, not cell size Binary fission Budding Conidiospores (actinomycetes) Fragmentation of filaments
Bacterial Growth: Overview PLAY Animation: Bacterial Growth: Overview
Figure 6.12a Binary fission in bacteria. Cell elongates and DNA is replicated. Cell wall Plasma membrane DNA (nucleoid) Cell wall and plasma membrane begin to constrict. Cross-wall forms, completely separating the two DNA copies. Cells separate. A diagram of the sequence of cell division
Figure 6.12b Binary fission in bacteria. DNA (nucleoid) Partially formed cross-wall Cell wall A thin section of a cell of Bacillus licheniformis starting to divide
Generation Time Time required for a cell to divide 20 minutes to 24 hours Binary fission doubles the number of cells each generation Total number of cells = 2number of generations Growth curves are represented logarithmically
Figure 6.13a Cell division.
Figure 6.13b Cell division.
Figure 6.14 A growth curve for an exponentially increasing population, plotted logarithmically (dashed line) and arithmetically (solid line). (1,048,576) (Log 10 = 6.02) (Log 10 = 4.52) (Log 10 = 3.01) (524,288) (Log 10 = 1.51) (262,144) (32) (1024) (131,072) (65,536) (32,768)
Phases of Growth Lag phase Log phase Stationary phase Death phase
Figure 6.15 Understanding the Bacterial Growth Curve.
Direct Measurement of Microbial Growth Direct measurements count microbial cells Plate count Filtration Most probable number (MPN) method Direct microscopic count
Plate Counts Count colonies on plates that have 30 to 300 colonies (CFUs) To ensure the right number of colonies, the original inoculum must be diluted via serial dilution Counts are performed on bacteria mixed into a dish with agar (pour plate method) or spread on the surface of a plate (spread plate method)
Figure 6.16 Serial dilutions and plate counts.
Figure 6.17 Methods of preparing plates for plate counts. The pour plate method The pour plate method The spread plate method The spread plate method Inoculate empty plate. 1.0 or 0.1 ml 0.1 ml Inoculate plate containing solid medium. Bacterial dilution Add melted nutrient agar. Spread inoculum over surface evenly. Swirl to mix. Colonies grow on and in solidified medium. Colonies grow only on surface of medium.
Filtration Solution passed through a filter that collects bacteria Filter is transferred to a Petri dish and grows as colonies on the surface
Figure 6.18 Counting bacteria by filtration.
The Most Probable Number (MPN) Method Multiple tube test Count positive tubes Compare with a statistical table
Figure 6.19a The most probable number (MPN) method.
Figure 6.19b The most probable number (MPN) method.
Direct Microscopic Count Volume of a bacterial suspension placed on a slide Average number of bacteria per viewing field is calculated Uses a special Petroff-Hausser cell counter Number of bacteria/ml = Number of cells counted Volume of area counted
Figure 6.20 Direct microscopic count of bacteria with a Petroff-Hausser cell counter. Grid with 25 large squares Cover glass Slide Bacterial suspension is added here and fills the shallow volume over the squares by capillary action. Bacterial suspension Cover glass Slide Location of squares Cross section of a cell counter. The depth under the cover glass and the area of the squares are known, so the volume of the bacterial suspension over the squares can be calculated (depth area). Microscopic count: All cells in several large squares are counted, and the numbers are averaged. The large square shown here has 14 bacterial cells. The volume of fluid over the large square is 1/1,250,000 of a milliliter. If it contains 14 cells, as shown here, then there are 14 1,250,000 = 17,500,000 cells in a milliliter.
Estimating Bacterial Numbers by Indirect Methods Turbidity measurement of cloudiness with a spectrophotometer Metabolic activity amount of metabolic product is proportional to the number of bacteria Dry weight bacteria are filtered, dried, and weighed; used for filamentous organisms
Figure 6.21 Turbidity estimation of bacterial numbers. Light source Light Spectrophotometer Scattered light that does not reach detector Blank Light-sensitive detector Bacterial suspension