BI 231 - Lab for BI 230

Credit Hours: 1

This lab will give students experience in methods of isolation and aseptic techniques as well as enabling them to identify the microbes in the world around them.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – Natural Sciences.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

SAFETY PROCEDURES AND PRECAUTIONS / USE OF THE MICROSCOPE

discuss and follow the safety regulations in the microbiology laboratory;
demonstrate the proper care in handling the microscope;
locate and describe the function of each part of the compound microscope;
use the microscope to observe prepared slides; and
complete assigned laboratory reports.

BACTERIAL CELL MORPHOLOGY

use the microscope to examine prepared slides of various microorganisms and use the correct bacteriologic terminology to describe shapes and arrangements of bacteria;
prepare a wet mount of microorganisms and observe for motility and distinguish true motility from other movements such as Brownian Movement and streaming; and
complete assigned laboratory reports.

MEDIA PREPARATION

calculate the number of grams of dehydrated medium needed to make up a specified volume of medium;
demonstrate the proper use of the triple beam balance for weighing out dehydrated powdered medium;
use a graduated cylinder to measure out the specific volume of water needed to dissolve the medium;
dissolve, dispense and sterilize media as specified; and
complete assigned laboratory reports.

ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

describe the procedures and principles of aseptic technique as it pertains to the microbiology laboratory;
using aseptic technique transfer cultures of bacteria (broth, agar slant and agar plate cultures);
demonstrate the proper way of performing a streak plate culture for isolation of bacteria;
culture microorganisms from various environmental sources; and
complete assigned laboratory reports.

EXAMINATION OF CULTURES

describe the characteristics to look for when looking at cultures of bacteria;
examine cultures prepared by students and demonstration cultures; describe the colony characteristics using the correct terminology; and
complete assigned laboratory reports.

SMEAR PREPARATION AND STAINING

describe the procedures for preparing smears from broth and agar media;
properly prepare smears of various specimens for subsequent staining;
perform a simple stain and examine the smear;
perform a Gram stain using the appropriate control cultures to check for accuracy in results and examine the smears;
perform an endospore stain and examine the smear; and
complete assigned laboratory sheets.

CONTROL OF MICROBIAL GROWTH

test the effectiveness of various antiseptic and disinfectant chemicals against test bacteria. Interpret the results;
observe demonstration plates of antibiotic susceptibility tests. Interpret the results; and
complete assigned laboratory sheets.

PARASITOLOGY

describe the basis of classifying protozoa and give examples of representative protozoa in each group;
observe prepared slides of representative protozoa;
describe the basis of classifying parasitic worms and give examples of representative parasitic worms in each group;
observe prepared slides and macroscopic specimens for representative parasitic worms and their microscopic structures as ova; and
complete assigned laboratory sheets.

MYCOLOGY

isolate environmental fungal organisms;
describe the basis of classifying fungal organisms and give examples of representative organisms;
observe the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of representative mold and yeast organisms; and
complete assigned laboratory sheets.

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Note: The instructor may choose different laboratory exercises to emphasize procedures used in the clinical laboratory. Some examples of exercises on normal and pathogenic bacteria are:

BACTERIA OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT

obtain a throat and nasal specimen for culture;
examine culture results and describe the colony morphology;
differentiate the genera Staphylococcus from Streptococcus on the basis of microscopic morphology and the catalase test; and
speciate these two genera using biochemical and other appropriate tests.
complete assigned laboratory sheets.

BACTERIAL OF THE GENITOURINARY TRACT

obtain a urine specimen for culture;
examine and interpret test results based on colony counts; and
identify selected organisms that are representative organisms (normal and pathogenic) associated with the genitourinary tract using biochemical tests.

Concurrent Registration: BI 230
F/S (C, N, S)