Transcript Identification of Bacteria by Enzymatic Activity

Identification of Bacteria by Enzymatic
Activity
Courtney Ballinger
Undergraduate Student (Health
Science Concentration),
Department of Biology,
Tennessee Technological
University, Cookeville, TN 38505
Introduction
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Bacteria are like any other cells; they are
powered by biochemical reactions known as
metabolism (Tondo et al 2004).
The main purpose of metabolism is to
generate energy and use it for the work of
the cell or bacteria (Kilian 1978).
Introduction (continued)
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Metabolic reactions are performed by
enzymes and with each individual step
throughout the pathway require the use of a
different enzyme (Krivobok et al 2003).
Different bacterial species use different
pathways (King et al 1978).
Introduction (continued)
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The complement of enzymes found in a
particular bacterium can be used as a
biochemical fingerprint to identify it (Goss
2006).
Objective: Identify various bacteria so the
identification of unknown bacterium is
possible using methods from Biology 3230
Health Science Microbiology Laboratory
Manual.
Introduction (continued)
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Hypothesis: I will be able to identify an
unknown bacterium using 6 enzyme tests on
less than 10 organisms.
Null Hypothesis: The unknown bacterium will
be identified by using more than 10
organisms.
Methods and Materials
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The methods used in this experiment are the
ones located in Sue Goss’s Biology 3230
Health Science Microbiology Laboratory
Manual.
Experimental Design
Statistics show that by using enzyme activity
identification of unknown bacteria is capable
with less tests and time compared to
standard procedures commonly used.
Results
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The identification of various unknown
bacteria using (Table 1) was successful.
The graph (Figure 1) shows the success rate
of identifying unknown bacteria by this
process.
Photos of some of the tests are shown
(Figures 2-4).
Results (continued)
Figure 2. Positive
DNAse Test
Figure 3. Gram
Stain
Figure 4. Catalase Test
Reactions
Discussion
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My results proved that my hypothesis of
being able to identify unknown bacteria using
only six enzyme tests on less than ten
organisms can be accepted.
The null hypothesis of having to use more
than ten organisms can be rejected.
Discussion (continued)
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My results show that since bacteria use
different metabolic pathways, enzyme tests
are useful in identification (King et al 1978).
Metabolic reactions are performed by
enzymes, so the detection of what unknown
you have is indicated by the result of the
enzyme test (Krivobok et al 2003).
Discussion (continued)
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Energy is generated from metabolism and by
using certain tests it assisted in the
identification of the unknown bacteria (Kilian
1978).
The enzymes present in the bacteria did
serve as a biochemical fingerprint for
identification (Goss 2006).
Discussion (continued)
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The biochemical reactions of bacteria are
proven to be a successful way to identify
unknown bacteria (Tondo et al 2004).
Overall the results that I collected positively
correlated with the previous work and
information that researchers in the past have
collected on this topic.
Conclusions
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Fast identification of unknown bacteria is
possible with the assistance of enzyme
reactivity.
Using the identification of other bacteria and
enzyme reactivity, it allows unneeded tests to
be eliminated from the normal routines
commonly used.
Conclusions (continued)
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This procedure of identification can benefit
people throughout the medical field.
With the assistance of enzyme tests this
method could save time, money, and
possibly lives.