WEEK 14

BMY3101-1 MICROBIOLOGY I

WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

This week is the last week of the sem 1 and also the week of "3MT". 3MT is a 3 minute talks which everyone of us have to present in front of our friend to tell them about our adopted microbes. I choose the microbes which are contributed in the biotechnology, which is Clostridium acetobutylicum. At the same time, we have to evaluate our classmate according to their performance. It was really nervous for me to talk in front and I have to stand on the stage somemore. But it was really a great experience to share my adopted microbes and my finding about this microbes to everyone. Below are my one slide for my presentation. On the next day which is the last class for microbiology I, we have small party. Classmate bring some snacks and also cakes from Dr. THANK YOU DR 💕 ! And we had our group photos! See you guys next sem !!!

WEEK 13

BMY3101-1 MICROBIOLOGY I

WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

For this week, we learned about Disinfectant and Sanitation, we also learn on Microbial Growth. This thursday can said to be the most important day for all of us, it's the MINIC presentation day! Microbiology students, Biotechnology students and the Biocellular students all take part in this the "Microbes Invention, Innovation and Ideation Challenge". We all forms 14 groups and work on microbes which help in our daily life with different field given. Our group work on the field of food. We used Bacillus subtilis, which is pigmentation producing bacteria which can help in natural coloration. About noon 12pm when we reach the foyer, we started to put on poster and decorate our booth. It's is a really great project for me to explore more on the microbes world which related to our daily life. Through this project, I also manage to get new friends from different courses. They are really awesome teammates! We able to bring this project to a success although we are not wining any prizes. And also a big applause to Dr Wan, who even help us and video calling us the day before the MINIC presentation. 

Thanks Lokman for this ugly picture HAHAHA

Poster from GROUP 14

Group photo 😏

WEEK 12

BMY3201-1 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY TECHNIQUES
WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

This week is the last experiment conducting for the sem 1. We doing on the Experiment 18, Serial Dilution- Agar Plate Procedure to Quantitate Viable Cells. There are many methods in taking measurement of quantity of microbes in particular medium, including direct microscopic counts, electronic cells counter, chemical method, spectrophotometric analysis and also the Agar Plate Analysis. However the best way to gets the number of colonies for viables cells is through the Agar Plate Analysis. 

Greater manipulation are needed for doing this experiment, we must be always clear on the dilution of the E. coli culture. This method involve serial dilution which the bacterial suspension in sterile water blanks. After dilution have done, the culture will be transfer to Petri dish by using pour plate technique or spread plate technique. For pour plate technique, the cooled Molten agar of 45°C is added to the Petri dish containing 1.0ml of bacterial suspension. The Petri dish is then gently rotated in a circular motion to make sure that all the bacterial cells are evenly distributed. For spread plate technique, the 0.1ml of bacterial suspension is carefully added into the Petri dish containing pre-prepared agar nutrient and is rotated using L-shaped glass rod in a circular motion. The average count per ml of sample is taken for both spread plate and pour plate. The number of organisms per ml of original culture is calculated by multiplying the number of colonies counted by the dilution factor:

Number of cells per ml= number of colonies x dilution factor

The Quebec colony counter and machanical hand counter is used in obtaining the number of colonies appear on the Petri dish. We can see that the bacterial colonies will grow on the surface and also suspended inside the nutrient medium for the pour plate technique. The Petri dish using spread plate technique only shows bacterial grow on the surface of agar. 

This is Quebec colony counter.

Final dilution of 10^-7

WEEK 12

BMY3101-1 MICROBIOLOGY I

WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

This week we learn about the Acellular microorganisms, which is the viruses, viroid and prions. Viruses are more smaller than the bacteria and they can only view under electron microscope. 

Virus Family can be categorized into DNA viruses and also RNA viruses. 

For DNA viruses, DNA is released into the nucleus of the host cell. Transcription and translation produce viral DNA and later capsid protein which is synthesized in the cytoplasm. 

For RNA viruses, RNA- dependent RNA polymerases synthesized the ds RNA. After maturation, viruses are released by budding or through ruptures in the host cell membrane. 

Viruslike agents: viroids and prions

Viroids: infectious RNA particles smaller than a virus.

1. consists of a single circular RNA molecule of low molecular weight
2. exist inside cells as particles of RNA without capsids or envelope
3. do not require a helper virus
4. does not produce protein
5. always copied in the host cell nucleus
6. not apparent in infected tissues without the use of special techniques to identify nucleotide sequences in the RNA

Prions: with no nucleic acid component.

1. heating to 90°C which inactivate virus
2.  not sensitive to radiation
3. sensitive to protein denaturing agents such as phenol and urea

In class, we are given task to find a virus and look for it's characteristic, know more about that particular virus. For our group, we have chosen the HIV. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that causes HIV infection and over time acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Without being on medications to stop HIV's replication, this process can take up to 10 years on average. To read more about HIV, go to https://padlet.com/myaaamin98/9ihbdgpduxzj 😏

WEEK 11

BMY3201-1 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY TECHNIQUES
WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

We are doing on the Experiment 16 and Experiment 17 this week, which are the physical factors: Atmospheric Oxygen Requirements and Technique for the Cultivation of  Anaerobic Microorganisms.

Microorganisms can be classified into 5 major groups according to their needs for oxygen: Aerobes, microaerophiles, obligate anaerobes, aerotolerant anaerobes and facultative anaerobes. Aerobes microorganisms require oxygen for growth, the microaerophiles only require limited amount of oxygen where excess oxygen may inhibit activities of oxidative enzyme. Obligate anaerobes require other molecules but not oxygen as their final electron acceptor. Aerotolerant anaerobes are fermentative organisms which do not use any oxygen. Facultative anaerobes can grow in either present or absence of oxygen, but they prefer growing in the presence of oxygen. By comparing the distribution of growth for each microbes that are transferred into a melted agar deep tube after incubation, we can classify the microbes into different groups. In oxygen requirement classification, Micrococcus luteus is categorized under aerobic. Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli are group members of  facultative anaerobic. For Clostridium sporogenes, they group under obligate anaerobic. 

For evacuation and replacement of oxygen atmosphere in sealed jar, we used GasPak system for Experiment 17. The evolved hydrogen gas is reacted with oxygen to yield water molecules. However, we cannot get the result for this part of experiment. This is because there are oxygen that entered the system. This may be cause by too much of Petri dish is put together at the same time in the system.  Clostridium sporogenes should shows growth under anaerobic condition. We also used fluid thioglycollate medium to classify the microbes. If pink colour is present, which means that there is oxydized part. All the bacterial species that is Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and Clostridium sporogenes show growth in the fluid thioglycollate. 

Sterile brain heart infusion of C. sporogenes which shows evenly distrubution of growth through the gas producing

M. luteus which produce pigmentation shows positive growth in aerobic condition

WEEK 11

BMY3101-1 MICROBIOLOGY I

WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

No class this week BUT we had our first road trip! We went to IBS ( Institut Biosains) which only located near the gate to kolej serumpun. About 1:30pm, we all gather at bus stop in front of the faculty. The main purpose we are coming here is to see the electron microscope and also learn more about the electron microscope. Kak Farah, staff of IBS in charge of giving information for our group. She first explain the Ultramicrotome process and also the processes needed to be done for the sample to be observe under the microscope. After that, she bring us to see the TEM and SEM. She also gives us chance to ask question and gives clear explanation to us. Nice experience !

Tadaaaaaaa IBS 

With Wem Ying

Too happy? 

It's GOLD!

Very huge electron microscope 

WEEK 10

BMY3201-1 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY TECHNIQUES
WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

We continue experiment for Part 4 on the physical factors on the microbial growth, that is Experiment 14, Physical Factors: Temperature and Experiment 15: Physical factors: pH of the Extracellular Environment. 

Microbial growth is directly dependent on the temperature. If the temperature is extreme high, this will cause the cellular enzyme of microbes lose its three dimensional shape, thus lead to denaturation of protein. However when the temperature is lowered towards freezing point, the cellular enzyme at this state is inactive, cellular metabolism become slower. Bacteria are capable in growing at range of -5°C to 80°C. Bacteria can be classify also based on their temperature requirement. Psychrophiles are bacterial species which grow range of -5°C to 20°C, mesophiles grow 20°C to 45°C, they have ability to grow on human body which are at 37°C. Thermophiles can withstand temperature 35°C and above. Facultative thermophiles grow at 37°C, optimum for 45°C to 60°C while obligate thermophiles with only grow above 50°C, optimum growth will be above 60°C. However the optimum growth of microbes is not necessary to be the best temperature for the production of pigmentation. o bacterial growth, pigment production or gas production  is shown at 4°C in the refrigerator. When come to 20°C of room temperature, pigment, bacterial growth can be seen for S. marcescens, P. aruginosa and E. coli. The bacterial growth and production of pigment and gas can also be observed at 37°C of body temperature. No other bacterial growth and pigment production can be seen at 60°C, only B. stearithermophilus show growth. 

Pigmentation produced by S. marcescens at 20°C

Production of gas from Saccharomyces cerevisiae happen at 37°C

WEEK 10

BMY3101-1 MICROBIOLOGY I

WHAT HAVE I LEARN?

This week we are going to learn about the protista. First when we entered the class, Dr request us to sit in pairs. We need to create a concept map for this topic. I paired with wemying and this is what we come out in the end. It's a really messy concept map! This is the link to the concept map: https://sketchboard.me/fALQHtxvLSuJ When doing the map, we are able to find out that there are separated into protozoa, algae and slime molds. After that, Dr gives us more detail on the explanation in this topic. 

Protozoa are consists of Archaezoa, Rhizopoda, Ciliophora and Apicomplexa.

Algae catagorized into group of six that is Chlorophyta (green algae), Rhodophyta (red algae), Phaeophyta (kelps), Pyrrophyta (dinoflagellates), Crystophyta (diatoms) and Euglenophyta.

Slime molds can be group into 3 that is Myxomycota (plasmodial slime molds), Acrasiomycoyta (cellular slime molds) and Peronosporomycetes (water molds).

image from: http://www.askiitians.com/biology/animal-kingdom/phylum-protozoa.html

image from: https://www.britannica.com/science/algael

image from: http://countryclublawnandtree.com/how-to-deal-with-slime-molds-and-prevent-them-from-infesting-your-lawn/