Findings

Ok, so my sample was gram negative and oxidase positive. Glucose Fermentation confirms I have Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is normally found in moist or wet areas. It has a rod shape structure identifiable to trained eyes. This is a bacteria has been found all over the world and has become resistant to antibacterial drugs. The bacteria can infect the blood causing a host of problems. People with a weakened immune system are susceptible to infection because the lack of defense against invasions. These bacteria have evolved to find new ways to be resistant against conventional treatment and can pass along genetic materials that allow other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well.

1st Experiment Gram Staining

So I got accepted as an S-STEM intern, and have been given my first assignment of Gram Staining. My first Gram stain was not so great and had to redo it. With some help from Josh and Matt I was able to get a good picture under the microscope. Below you can see a picture of the bacteria growth on the petri dish.


This is the progression after one day. In the picture you can see the zigzag pattern where I rubbed the inoculation loop. Today 10/24/13 I performed an Oxidase Test. Essentially to perform this test a small piece of filter paper is soaked in 1% Kovács oxidase. Then the bacteria from the petri dish is rubbed with an inoculation loop onto the paper and if the sample turns purple that means the microorganisms are oxidase positive and if there is no color change that means they are negative. As of the moment, my samples are back in the incubator undergoing a new test. Glucose Fermentation.

Greetings!

Hello everybody!

Hi My name is Michael Ledesma and I’ve just recently been accepted into the S-Stem program. I’m excited about the opportunity but have yet to be assigned a research assignment. So I had my interview with S-Stem. I believe the word was bioremediation of fuel. I have to say, this caught me by surprise. I had no idea what it was, so I started fishing around, and what I found was interesting. So bioremediation is technology used to clean up contaminates. From skimming through sights I found that microbes, generally bacteria are used to transform contaminants into non-harmful substances. The microorganisms consume the toxins and break them down into substances such as water and CO2. This is a natural process that removes the contaminants from ground water, soil and other surfaces naturally.