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CHAPTER

17

-V,-'ru-s-e-s-a-n-d-B-a-c-te-r-ia--------------Section 17-2

S KILL

ACT I VI T Y-

Analyzing data

Identifying Unknown Bacteria

Bacteria and other microbes are considerably difficult to identify. Bacteria are extremely small and show only a few variations in appearance. Testing for chemical characteristics is often needed to distinguish between bacteria that are similar in appearance. The table below gives characteristics for a variety of bacteria that often need to be identified in medical laboratories. Familiarize yourself with the table. A plus sign in the table indicates that an organism does have the listed characteristic. A minus sign in the table indicates that the bacterium does not have the characteristic. A blank means that the information is not available. Use the information in the table to identify two unknown organisms.

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Organism Shape or Form

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1. Bacillus anthracis 2. Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus Bacillus Bacillus Bacillus Diplococcus Bacillus Bacillus Diplococcus Diplococcus Diplococcus Bacillus Bacillus Bacillus Staphylococcus Staphylococcus Streptococcus Streptococcus

A A A A A B B B B B B B B A A A A

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3. Clostridium botulinum 4. Clostridium tetani

5. Streptococcus pneurnoniae 6. Escherichia coli 7. Klebsiella pneumoniae 8. Neisseria catarrhalis 9. Neisseria gonorrheae 10. Neisseria meningitidis 11. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12. Salmonella typhi 13. Serratia marcescens 14. Staphylococcus aureus 15. Staphylococcus epidermidis 16. Streptococcus fecalis 17. Streptococcus tiemoiyticus
Prentice-Hall,

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1. Unknown A is examined under a microscope and observed to be a diplococcus. A test is done that shows that the diplococcus has cell wall type B and has no capsule. Samples of unknown A are placed in incubators at 20C and at 37C. The sample at 37C grows well, but the one at 20C does not. The unknown organism is tested for the ability to ferment the sugars glucose, maltose, and lactose. It can only ferment glucose. The identity of unknown A is ~J ~~'S~'f~ 2. Unknown B is a bacillus with cell wall type A. It is anaerobic and causes lysis (bursting) of red blood cells. This organism is tested for the ability to ferment the sugars glucose and lactose. It cannot ferment either of these sugars. The identity of unknown B is

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