Online Biology Notes for undergraduate and graduate students
Sushmita Baniya 
Outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia 2019-20 (2019-nCoV) The recent outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia has threatened China and the nearby states. Travelers from the Wuhan city being suffered from fever and cough are on strict observations at the airports. Medical authorities in the different international airports are supervising the travelers as to prevent the spread of the … Read more Outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia 2019-20 (2019-nCoV)
Ideonella sakaiensis- Plastic eating bacteria Today the use of plastic and the pollutants has been the global threat. It has created an impact on the terrestrial as well as the marine ecosystem. Though the use of plastic has to comfort our living style, the lack of proper management has created pollution in nature. Recently, researchers … Read more Ideonella sakaiensis- Plastic eating bacteria
Hepatitis is a liver infection. It is caused by the Hepatitis C virus which is a blood-borne virus. It is a short term illness but it can be asymptomatic until decades after the infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long term health problems and even death. Image Source: DEUTSCHE … Read more Hepatitis C
VIVA Alert: Basic Microbiology with mnemonics Name one cluster shaped (grape-like) cocci? Staphylococcus aureus Name one chain shaped cocci? Streptococcus spp. What is the difference between Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus? S. aureus is cluster shaped and Streptococcus is chain shaped. S. aureus is catalase-positive and Streptococcus is catalase negative. Name any five lactose fermenting organisms? … Read more VIVA Alert: Basic Microbiology with mnemonics
Terminology used in Basic Microbiology Aerobe = organisms that grow in the presence of atmospheric oxygen Anaerobe = grows in absence of free oxygen aerotolerant anaerobes = microbes that grow equally well whether or not oxygen is present facultative anaerobes = microbes that don’t require oxygen for growth but do grow better in its presence … Read more Terminology used in Basic Microbiology
Culture media used in microbiology Image Source: Sigma-Aldrich Nutrient agar(1% to 2%) –> Basal media in microbiology, Supports the growth of all non-fastidious organisms MacConkey Agar—> Differential media for Enterobacteriaceae ( i.e. Lactose fermenting and non-lactose fermenting) Mannitol Salt Agar–> Selective and indicator media for S. aureus Triple Sugar Iron(TSI) medium–> Differentiation of various members … Read more Culture media used in microbiology