What are psychrophiles?
Bacteria that have optimal growth between -5°C and 20°C. They can be found in the icy waters of the Arctic and the Antarctic.
What are mesophiles?
Bacteria that have optimal growth between 20°C and 50°C. Most bacteria fall into this category.
Most pathogens grow between 35°C and 40°C.
What are thermophiles?
Bacteria that have optimal growth between 50°C and 80°C. They occur in soils where the midday temperature can exceed 50°C or in compost piles where temperatures exceed 60-65°C.
What are hyperthermophiles?
Organisms that have optimal growth above 80°C. They have been isolated from thermal vents deep within the ocean floor and from volcanic heated hot springs.
What are psychrotrophs?
Bacteria that can grow at temperatures higher or lower than their optimal range.
What pigment does S. marcescens produce?
A red pigment called prodigiosin.
What are facultative anaerobes?
Bacteria that grow well in aerobic conditions but can also grow anaerobically when oxygen is not available.
What are aerotolerant anaerobes?
Anaerobes that tolerate oxygen and grow in its presence but do not require oxygen for energy production.
What are toxic forms of oxygen?
Hydrogen peroxide and superoxide.
What are obligate (strict) anaerobes?
Bacteria that are harmed or killed by oxygen and must be cultured in conditions where oxygen has been totally eliminated.
What does catalase do?
Degrades hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water.
What is FTM (Fluid Thioglycollate Medium)?
A medium that contains a dye called resazurin.
What does peroxidase do?
Also degrades hydrogen peroxide.
What does superoxide dismutase do?
Converts superoxides to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.
What are antibiotics?
Antimicrobials, usually of low molecular weight, produced by microorganisms that inhibit or kill other microorganisms.
What are semi-synthetics?
Chemically altered antibiotics that are made more effective in their mode of action.
What are sulfa drugs?
Synthetics that were used to treat some bacterial diseases before the discovery of penicillin.
What are antiseptics?
Substances such as alcohol or betadine that inhibit microbial growth or kill microorganisms and are gentle enough to be applied to living tissue.
What are disinfectants?
Chemical agents that are applied to inanimate objects such as floors, walls, and tabletops to kill microorganisms.
What are sanitizers?
Agents that reduce microbial numbers to a safe level but do not completely eliminate all microbes.
What are bactericidal agents?
Agents that kill bacterial cells.
