Bacterial identification is crucial for medical treatment and scientific research. Creating an isolate is the first step, followed by using various tools such as stains, serological methods, and gene sequencing. Laboratories specialize in identifying samples and preventing contamination.
Bacterial identification is a process that is used to pinpoint the identity of specific bacteria. It is an important part of medical treatment, as many treatments are highly dependent on the identity of the particular organism causing a medical problem, and it is also an important part of scientific research. Numerous techniques are used in the identification of bacteria, and new techniques are constantly devised as people learn more about bacteria and new medical equipment is developed.
The first step of bacterial identification involves creating an isolate, a working sample of the bacteria in question. Isolates begin with a small swab of the suspected bacteria taken from a patient or object. The isolate is created by finding a growth medium that will support the bacteria and successfully growing enough bacteria for study. This can be quite a challenge, since bacteria are very picky and won’t grow in just any medium. It is also important to avoid contaminating the growth medium or sample, as this can cause confusing results.
Once a bacterium has been cultured, a wide variety of tools can be used to provide clues to its identity. One of the most basic is a Gram stain, which divides bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with the use of a chemical stain. Other stains can be used to increase contrast, making the bacteria easier to see under a microscope. Microscopic visual identification can commonly be performed with familiar bacterial species, especially those with a particular shape.
There are multiple tools in the bacterial identification arsenal. A researcher can use serological methods, which involve exposing a sample of unknown bacteria to various antibodies to see if there is a reaction, or gene sequencing, in which the genetic code of a bacterium is unraveled. Gene sequencing can also be used to differentiate two closely related strains of bacteria, providing insight into why one strain responds to a particular course of drugs while another does not. Responses to various chemicals and stimuli such as ultraviolet radiation can also be studied.
Bacterial identification is traditionally performed in a laboratory, as laboratories have medical equipment, chemicals, and instruments that can be used in the course of searching for the identity of a bacterium. Some labs specialize in culturing and identifying samples from hospitals and medical clinics, while others focus on research, identifying samples of new and unknown bacteria so they can be classified. The laboratory environment is tightly controlled to prevent accidental contamination and infection of laboratory workers, with particularly virulent organisms being studied in high-security laboratories that include varying levels of protection for scientists.
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