SPRG. SEM. (1/24/20) transferring bacteria and automated fluorescence microscopy

In the second week of the Spring semester, we worked with some bacteria colonies in Petri dishes and learn some basics about the automated fluorescence microscopy.


Agar and TGY

First, we inoculated some of the bacteria from the Petri dish to flasks with TGY. 
                          
               

  1. We didn't use metal loops this time, so there was no need to use the Bunsen Burner. Instead, we used disposable loops (to avoid any type of cross-contamination from one bacteria to another). 
  2. We learned how to inoculate from Agar to Broth (we knew from Broth to Agar). "I'll have a different post explaining this in detail"

                             
         


There were 8 different bacteria. Each one of us worked in either one or two of them. 
In order to avoid contamination, we were away from the person who was working with the Petri dish at that moment. After a person was done, the same person cleaned the area, and then the next person started working. 















After we were done with the project, we put tape on the Petri dishes to keep them closed, and then we taped them all together, and we store them away. Then, we made sure the flasks were tightly sealed with the foil, and we placed them in the incubator too.

Automated Fluorescence Microscopy

 



In the last hour of the lab, we learned about the microscope that was used in the dark. This used for fluorescent Grams Stains. Bacteria will still be alive while we look at it. 

  


This was composed of the microscope, the laptop that kept all the data collected, and the screen that showed a larger image. We learned about the parts of the microscope, especially the three main dyes. The dyes were used for different parts of the bacteria, or cell. The light also changes depending on what is searched for. Once I learned more about this, I will create a blog about how this microscope works. 



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