Microorganisms: Staphylococcus Epidermidis

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When reflecting back to experiment 3, Aseptic Technique and Culturing Microbes, I realized the large amount of microorganisms that can be found in everyday life. Many different types are found with in the human body. Theses experiments focused on two types of bacteria. First was Staphylococcus epidermidis, found on the skin, and second was Lactobacillus acidophilus, found in the gastrointestinal tract. Both have similar needs for growth when it comes to temperature, however, different growth environments are used.
In order for growth to occur microorganisms need to obtain energy. One of those ways is by either the use of oxygen or not using oxygen. Microorganisms that require oxygen are obligate aerobes. It is essential for these to obtain oxygen for growth, they receive there energy from aerobic respiration which requires oxygen. Microorganisms that do not necessarily require oxygen are known as Facultative anaerobe. These organisms are able to grow with or without the presence of oxygen. They obtain there energy from aerobic respiration if oxygen is present. Facultative anaerobes are able to switch to fermentation or anaerobic respiration if no oxygen is present. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Lactobacillus acidophilus are both facultative anaerobes, that do not always require oxygen to grow.
There are also temperature requirements for growth to occur. Microorganisms are in several groups depending on there preferred temperatures. The first type is Psyrophiles. These bacteria prefer cold weather. Usually found in negative five degrees Celsius to fifteen degrees Celsius. Generally located in the Antarctic and Artic regions feed by run off of glaciers. The next is Mesophiles. These bacteria prefer moder...

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...surface for growth. And finally stab tubes or deeps are tubes filled with hardened agar medium and are used by stabbing inoculum into the agar. The two different mediums used n this experiment were nutrient broth for the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and MRS broth which is used for culturing Lactobacillus acidophilus.
After observing the two cultures at the twenty four hour mark neither was showing any signs of growth. It was not until the forty eight hour mark that there were signs of growth. The nutrient broth containing Staphylococcus epidermidis became cloudy or with turbidity. The MRS broth containing the Lactobacillus acidophilus had an increase in sediment. I feel that I did not see growth at the twenty four hour mark due to possible inadequate temperature. I did adjust the temperature to try and stay at the thirty seven degree Celsius mark.

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