What lab tools i could use to identify the bacteria

[LINDAZHEN]

My project is to use LB agar to study bacteria in daily environment. However, i also want to identify them with general lab tools such as acids...etc. My general idea of this project is, first i will grow the bacteria collected from bathroom, fridge, place near heat...etc. then i will set up a hypothesis for each plate of bacteria i collected and search online to see what possible results are the bacteria. however i know that it will not be correct until i identify these bacteria and to see if their real identify match with what i guess... i want to see if there are any acids or other high school lab tools to help me do that (ex. if i add xx acid to yy bacteria, the bacteria will change ?? color, thus it is the bacteria for the specific location) .... would anyone give me hints what i could do? thank you.

[barretttomlinson]

Hi ,

You are asking questions about an experiment that could be very hazardous. Please work with a qualified mentor. Here is a reference to some of the precautions which must be observed:

http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/bio16/Lab%20Man ... 0rules.htm

As to your question, I have questionable qualifications to answer it. It is my impression that staining with dyes and observing shapes of microbes under a microscope are common tools used in the identification of organisms. One useful tool is the Gram stain.

http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/bio16/Lab%20Man ... rcise3.htm

http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/bio16/Lab%20Man ... rcise4.htm

http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/bio16/Lab%20Man ... rcise5.htm

http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/bio16/Lab%20Man ... rcise6.htm

http://www.hpa-standardmethods.org.uk/d ... sopid1.pdf

When I was a youth engaged in science fair projects the two bacteriologists who worked in the local hospital lab were both eager to help inquisitive kids with questions of this type. Part of their interest was to help avoid the growth of contagious organisms that could contaminate our houses. Again, please, please partner with a qualified mentor if you wish to pursue this project!

Be safe and good luck with the project!

Barrett Tomlinson

[LINDAZHEN]

Thank you so much! Your info. helps a lot! I am going to partner with my biology/biotechnical engineering teacher with this process!

However, i have another question, i noticed that i need to use cotton swab to collect the microbes, i want to ask if i could just use common swabs like those from CVS or i need to order a special kind?

[barretttomlinson]

Hi;

I am delighted to hear you found a good mentor!!! He/she should answer all your technique questions.

I think you can probably use ordinary swabs. The thing to consider is, are the swabs sterile before you collect your test samples. The main consideration is whether the swabs will contaminate your results. You could test this by culturing from your raw swabs that had not been used to collect samples(ie run an experimental blank sample, which is always a good practice in an experimental design). If you come up with blank culture plates, the swabs are not contaminating your test samples.


Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson

[LINDAZHEN]

Thank you so much again! Yeah, i am using new plates and LB agar broth ordered from http://www.carolina.com, there are 20 of them. i will use two for each culture source:
refrigerator,
location near the plants,
location near heating vents,
bathroom,
my bedroom
location near the sink
and kitchen

i know there are tons of bacteria in each of the place, so i want to find out the most common bacteria in each place... could you tell me which online resources/books i could find these info. from? Thank you again!

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

Here is a sample of resources - you could spend years answering this question:

http://www.checkformold.com/home/cfm/sm ... lds.html#C

https://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=333033

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 215AAFAjEo

http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol302/index.html

http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol302/index.html

Very useful book references appear to be:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 6032&itm=1

http://books.google.com/books?id=pwORAAAACAAJ

The short answer is that you will not be able to identify all microbes that you culture, and will be very lucky to identify a few in your project. I keep finding cautions about the need to use careful precautions in the use and disposal of culture plates due to the risks of culturing dangerous pathogens. Be safe!

Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson