MICROBIAL NUTRITION

AND GROWTH
By:
Engr. Vera Marie L. Lanaria
ChE Department
CIT University
Microbial Nutrition
2 Categories of essential nutrients:
macronutrients required in large
quantities and play principal roles in cell
structure and metabolism; Ex. C, 0
2
, H
2

micronutrients (trace elements) present
in much smaller amounts and are involved
in enzyme function and maintenance of
protein structure; Ex. Mn, Zn, Ni
Another way to categorize nutrients is
according to their carbon content:
inorganic nutrient
- it contains a combination of atoms other than
carbon and hydrogen
- the natural reservoirs are mineral deposits in
the crust, bodies of water, and atmosphere of
the earth
- Ex. metals and their salts (MgSO
4
, Fe
2
NO
3
,
etc.); gases (O
2
& CO
2
); water
organic nutrients
- contain carbon and hydrogen atoms and are
usually the products of living things
- they range from the simplest organic
molecule, methane (CH
4
) to large polymers
- the source is extremely varied
Transport Mechanisms
for Nutrient Absorption
A microbial cell must take in nutrients from its
surroundings by transporting them across the
cell membrane.
Osmosis is diffusion of water through a
selectively permeable membrane.
Living membranes generally blocks the
entrance & exit of larger molecules and permit
free diffusion of water.
Cell Responses to solutions of
differing osmotic content
Isotonic
Hypotonic
Hypertonic

Isotonic
Water concentration is equal
inside and outside the cell;
thus, rates of diffusion are
equal in both directions
Hypotonic
Net diffusion of water is
into the cell; this
swells the protoplast
and pushes it tightly
against the wall.
Hypertonic
Water diffuses out of the
cell and shrinks the
protoplast away from
the cell wall; process is
known as plasmolysis.
Microbial Growth
refers both to increase in cell size and
increase in number of cells in a
population
Basis of Population
Growth
The splitting of a parent bacterial cell to
form a pair of similar-size daughter cells
is known as binary, or transverse,
fission.
Rate of Population
Growth
The time required for a complete fission
cycle --- from parent cell to 2 new
daughter cells --- is called the
generation or doubling time.
A population theoretically doubles with
each generation, so the growth rate is
exponential and each cycle increases in
geometric progression.
Population Growth Curve
is a graphic representation of a closed population
over time
Measuring Microbial
Growth
Methods of estimating the no. of cells:
1) Direct methods
- viable plate counts; membrane filtration;
microscopic counts; electronic counters;
flow cytometry; the most probable number
method (MPN)
2) Indirect method
- metabolic activity; dry weight; turbidity