M icrobial G rowth

C hapter 6
 Principles of bacterial growth

1. Definition:
Bacterial G rowth is defined as an
increase in cell number leading to an
increase in the size of a population.

2. Process: Bacteria generally multiply

by the process of Binary F ission
Binary Fission

Figure 6.12a
 G eneration T ime
1. T he time it takes for a bacterial cell to
double in number is Generation T ime.
G eneration time = Doubling time

2. T he environmental and Nutritional

factors affect the Generation T ime.
Bacterial G rowth in L aboratory

C losed/Batch System

G rowth C urve
Phases of Growth
 Nutritional F actors

1. M ajor Required E lements:

C , H, O , N, P, S
2. T race E lements:
Co, Zn, C u, Mo
3. G rowth F actors
F astidious organisms
V itamins, amino acids
 E nergy Sources

Sunlight
O rganic chemical compounds
Inorganic chemical compounds
 Nutritional Diversity
1. Photoautotrophs
2. Photoheterotrophs
3. C hemoautotrophs/chemolithotrophs
4. C hemoheterotrophs/
chemoorganotrophs
 E nvironmental F actors

1. T emperature
2. O xygen
3. pH
4. W ater availability
 Temperature
1. T emperature range:
T emp. minimum,
T emp. optimum,
T emp. maximum

2. W hy?
Typical Growth Rates and Temperature

Figure 6.1
 T emperature based groups of
Prokaryotes
1. PSY C H R O P H I L ES

2. PSY C H R O T R O P HS

3. M ESO P H I L ES
Food Preservation Temperatures

Figure 6.2
 T emperature based groups of
Prokaryotes

3. T H E R M O P H I L ES
RSWLPDODERYHÛ

4. E X T R E M E T H E R M O P H I L ES
RSWLPDOÛRUKLJKHU
( C haperones )
 Prokaryotic groups based on
O xygen requirement

1. O B L I G A T E A E R O B ES
2. O B L I G A T E A N A E R O B ES
3. F A C U L T A T I V E A N A E R O B ES
4. M I C R O A E R O P H I L ES
5. A E R O T O L E R A N T A N A E R O B ES
 Toxic Derivatives of O xygen

1. Superoxide free radicals (O 2 ¯)

SO D (Superoxide dismutase)
2H + + 2 O 2Āĺ+2 O 2 + O 2

2. H ydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2)
C atalase: 2H 2 O 2 ĺ+2 O + O 2
Anaerobic Jar

Figure 6.6
An Anaerobic Chamber

Figure 6.7
 pH
1. N E U T R O P H I L ES : optimal p H 5-8

2. A C I D O P H I L ES
Thiobacillus in acid mine drainage

3. A L K A L O P H I L ES
some Bacillus species
 W ater A vailability
1. H ypertonic (plasmolysis)
Food preservation

2. OSM O T O L E R A N T(F acultative

H alophiles): able to grow in
high salt conc. Staphylococcus

3. H A L O P H I L ES-require
high levels of Na C l
 Material covered in Lab
‡ Spread plate and streak method
‡ Serial dilutions, plate count
‡ Measurement of Bacterial Growth
‡ Types of media: Selective, Differential,
enriched, enrichment etc.