Inoculation
The implantation of microorganisms into or upon culture media.
Incubation
To isolate a sample culture in a temperature-controlled environment to encourage growth.
Isolation
The separation of microbial cells by serial dilution or mechanical dispersion on solid media to create discrete colonies.
Pure culture
A container growing a single species of microbe whose identity is known.
Microscopy
Science that studies structure, magnification, lenses, and techniques related to use of a microscope.
Magnification
The ability to make objects appear enlarged.
Resolution
The capacity of a microscope lens system to accurately distinguish between two separate entities that lie close to each other
Condenser
A special lens that converges or focuses the rays of light to a single point on the object.
Numerical aperture (NA)
In Microscopy, a measure of the light passing from the object and into the objective to maximize optical clarity and resolution.
Wet mount
It consists of a drop or two of the culture placed on a slide and overlaid with a cover glass.
Positive stain
Technique in which dye affixes to a specimen and imparts color to it. It takes advantage of the ready binding of bacterial cells to dyes.
Negative stain
A staining technique that renders the background opaque or colored and leaves the object unstained so that it is outlined as a colorless area.
Simple stain
Type of positive staining technique that uses a single dye to add color to cells so that they are easier to see. This technique tends to color all cells the same color.
Differential stain
A technique that utilizes two dyes to distinguish between different microbial groups or cell parts by color reaction.
Hans Christian Gram
He discovered a staining technique that could be used to make bacteria in infectious specimens more visible.
Gram-positive
A color reaction of the cells which stained purple.
Gram-negative
A color reaction of the cells which stained red.
Acid-fast stain
It is another commonly used differential stain. This stain originated as a specific method to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in specimens
capsule stain
It is a method of observing the microbial capsule, an unstructured protective layer surrounding the cells of some bacteria and fungi.
Culture
The visible accumulation of microorganisms in or on a nutrient medium. Also, the propagation of microorganisms with various media.
Subculture
To make a second-generation culture from a well-established colony of organisms.
Medium/media
A nutrient used to grow organisms outside of their natural habitats.
Colony
A growth of bacteria cell on a surface.
Morphology
The study of organismic structure.
Streak plate
Cells are spread over separate areas on the surface so that they can form individual colonies.
Spread plate
A small volume of liquid from the diluted sample is pipetted onto the surface of the medium and spread around evenly by a Sterile spreading tool.
Serial dilution
Mechanical dispersion on solid media to create discrete colonies.
General media
They are designed to grow a broad spectrum of microbes that do not have special growth requirements.
Selective media
It contains one or more agents that inhibit the growth of a certain microbe or microbes.
Differential media
A single substrate that discriminates between groups of microorganisms on the basis of differences in their appearance due to different chemical reactions.
Enrichment media
A nutrient medium supplemented with blood, serum, or some growth factor to promote the multiplication of fastidious microorganisms.
Growth factors
An organic compound such as a vitamin or amino acid that must be provided in the diet to facilitate growth. An essential nutrient.
Fastidious
An organism that will only grow when specific nutrients are included in its diet that are included in its culture.