Chapter 1. Introduction to Microbiological Laboratory
Safety Rules and Laboratory Instructions
Microscopy and compound microscope
Common Microbiological Apparatus
Microbiological Techniques (Pure culture, Heamocytometry, Micrometry)
Spectrophotometry and Colorimetry
Centrifugation techniques
pH meter

Chapter 2. Morphology and Cytology of Microorganisms
Staining procedures for Bacteria (Simple staining, Gram staining, Acid fast staining, Capsule staining, Endospore staining)
Microscopic examination of Fungi and Yeasts
Microscopic examination of Algae and Protozoa

Chapter 3. Nutrition and Growth of Microorganisms
Preparation of Media and sterilization
Growth of Bacteria (Standard plate count), Growth of Fungi
Isolation of bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes from soil, air and water
Effect of physical factors (temperature, pH) on growth of bacteria
Effect of inhibitors on growth of bacteria

Chapter 4. Applied Microbiology
Soil Microbiology
Industrial Microbiology
Clinical Microbiology
Microbial genetics

Chapter 5. Annexure

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Gurvinder Singh Kocher has one manual (Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology, 2003, 2011) and an (Electronic course in Microbiology, 2004) to his credit. He has been teaching courses in General Microbiology, Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Physiology and Metabolism to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students for the past 15 years. He has also published a number of book chapters, review articles and research papers in journals. He is an expert on vinegar and wine production. He is also working on alkaline proteases and cellulases.

Dr Kocher is a 1997 recipient of Young Scientist award in Environment Microbiology from Association of Microbiologists of India. He has won a number of fellowships, such as Boyscast Fellowship (2000), UGC’s Visiting Associateship (2001) and Borlaug Fellowship (2007). He was also awarded international trainings in Biotechnology (Germany, 1999) and Fermentation Technology (USA, 2010). He has been serving on the editorial board of Journal of Brewing and Distilling, Nigeria and African Journal of Food Science and Technology, Nigeria and has also been editing papers for Starch, Journal of Food Science and Technology, Indian Journal of Biotechnology, to name a few. Dr Kocher grew up in Ludhiana, Punjab where he currently resides with his wife (a Zoologist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana) and two children. His past time is going for a walk or watching television.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Microbiology is an interesting branch of applied sciences and forms an indispensable part of a plethora of other sciences such as biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, medical sciences, biochemical engineering, food sciences and technology, agricultural sciences etc. This is because our environment i.e soil, water, and air are all full of microorganisms and the latter maintain a balance of the environmental characteristics. Hence, the study, understanding and practical knowledge of microorganisms is a must for every biologist and biochemical engineer. Further, with the introduction of microbiology at senior school level neccessitates that the budding microbiologists possess a conceptual and hands on knowledge of these wonderful microorganisms. Keeping in mind the need for a simple, crisp and a combined book on practical handling of microbiology, the present book “Practical Teachings in Microbiology” has been compiled, to cater to the needs of undergraduate, post-graduate students and researchers of microbiology.

The book contains four sections, the first three dealing with make up of a microbiology laboratory, morphology and physiology of microorgansims, respectively. The fourth section deals with applied microbiology wherein commonly used experiments in soil, industrial, clinical and genetic aspects of microorganisms have been discussed.

The first section is on instrumentation required for a microbiology laboratory rules, followed by eight extended exercises on microscopy, microbiological glass apparatus, useful microbiological techniques in isolation, enumeration etc, spectrophotometry, centrifugation and pH meter. The exercises also contain concepts of the instruments and techniques, their use and a few questions to improve reader’s understanding and knowledge.

The second section is devoted to observe the morphological diversity of bacteria, fungi, algae, actinomycetes, and protozoans with nine extended exercises. Bacterial staining experiments on simple, differential and special stainings have been thoroughly presented and the stains, reagents and their composition have been given in annexure.

The third section covers physiological experiments in culturing and growth of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes on general-purpose and specialized media. The preparation and sterilization of media forms a separate exercise. Further, experiments on effect of physical and chemical parameters on bacterial growth have been added.

The last section on applied microbiology has been written as 52 experiments on soil, industrial, clinical microbiology and microbial genetics. The 12 exercises in Industrial Microbiology include experiments on use of fermenters, production of biogas, enzymes, and organic acids besides experiments on immobilization, detection of BOD and COD and screening of useful antibodies producing microorganisms. The sub-sections on clinical microbiology have been written as 15 experiments with seven experiments on study of clinically important microflora of skin, mouth, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and urinogenital tract. The eight experiments of this subsection largely cover specialized tests such as biochemical and immunological diagnostic tests, MPN and antibody senstivity. The last subsection on microbial genetics contains 17 extended exercises with nine exercises on classical genetic techniques such as replica plating, flocculation test, selection and detection of mutants, transfusion, conjugation, transduction and complementation. Five exercises are devoted to molecular experiments on isolation of plasmid and genomic DNA, plasmid curing, and use of thermocycler for amplification of DNA.