Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am in the research process of my bacteria based project. I am testing to see if there is harmful bacteria lying in self serve areas in restaurants. I will then use the gram staining technique to help me identify what type of bacteria was present.I would then compare what I see under the microscope with pictures of bacteria. Do you know what the best source for getting pictures of bacteria is? Is there a place where I could find pictures of bacteria that are commonly found in restaurants (to narrow my research down)?

Hi,

Here are some Science Buddies resources on bacteria identifcation:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ates.shtml

http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/normalflora.html

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... =25&t=3153

http://www.slic2.wsu.edu:82/hurlbert/mi ... 1lab5.html

Here are some bacterial identification guides:

http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/mbiology/ug/ ... index.html

http://microbeid.com/Keys/gramstain.html

http://microbeid.com/

Here are two books that might be helpful. Google allows you to browse portions of the books online:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Y4tsGV ... ide&f=true

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZAZ-zI ... ide&f=true

Here is a program to support identification:

http://www.som.soton.ac.uk/staff/tnb/pib.htm

I hope this gets you started. Have fun!

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

also if you want really interesting pictures of bacteria then you should search on google images for "electron microscope images of ... bacteria". also, make sure that you are very careful when working with bacteria. Make sure you wear latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves at all times while handling the bacteria. take all the safety precations you can take. In addition, when you are done with your experiments and need to dispose the bacteria, you should probably bleach the containers of bacteria (be careful using bleach). I know that this is what professional laboratories do.

good luck,
scienceexpert123

Gram stain can classify bacteria but it would be difficult to identify bacteria base on gram stain alone. Gram stain will classify bacteria by shapes and as gram positive/negative.
Michael

Hello!!
Im a student of Microbiology and im doing research on food microbiology,The topic is:Isolation of microorganisms from beef burger samples and raw fish.This is the topic of my final project.So, kindly help me. I have inoculated 3 plates of beef burger sample, EMB ,VRB and Nutrient agar.i want to identify that what type of bacteria have grown on these plates.kindly help me.what should i do after staining the colonies and observing them in microscope??I want to know that wether the bacteria is pseudomonas ,enterobacter etc.

Hi Madiha,

I see that you started your posting in this thread. You should always reply in the same topic so all of the experts helping you can see what is happening.

I can understand a little more about what you are doing now. However, testing for bacteria in restaurants and identifying all of the bacteria in fish and meat samples is more than one project. You need to clearly define what you want to accomplish. What question do you want to answer by doing your science fair project?

Here's are some news reports about bacterial contamination in restaurants.

http://www.ketv.com/r/24306339/detail.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Germs/soda ... id=9506583

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/45275.php

Does this give you any ideas?

Donna Hardy

donnahardy2 wrote:Hi Madiha,

I see that you started your posting in this thread. You should always reply in the same topic so all of the experts helping you can see what is happening.

I can understand a little more about what you are doing now. However, testing for bacteria in restaurants and identifying all of the bacteria in fish and meat samples is more than one project. You need to clearly define what you want to accomplish. What question do you want to answer by doing your science fair project?

Here's are some news reports about bacterial contamination in restaurants.

http://www.ketv.com/r/24306339/detail.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Germs/soda ... id=9506583

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/45275.php

Does this give you any ideas?

Donna Hardy

Thank alot ,by these link im getting help...i want to accomplish pathogens or other bacteria from beef burger samples of different restaurants.Iv already collected 5 samples and the incubation and streak process is also completed now i have to find out the names of bacteria which are i have isolated on Nutrient agar..These links have helped me...I wiil ask u further after performing biochemical tests...Regards

I am sure you know this, but many science competitions are very picky when it comes to experiments involving bacteria. Make sure you read and comply with the rules.