LAB REPORT (Essay Sample)

NAME: DATE: Lab Report Identification of Unknown Bacteria: Help save baby Kuppelfangs from an epidemic! This lab report is for you to reflect on what you completed and learned in this simulation, and to practice your written scientific communication skills. Include enough detail to clearly describe the lab experience to someone who understands the concepts but has not participated in the simulation. Use correct scientific terminology whenever applicable. Sections TOC \h \u \z \n \t "Heading 1,1,Heading 2,2,Heading 3,3,Heading 4,4,Heading 5,5,Heading 6,6,"Describe the overall objective and make a hypothesisIntroduce relevant background knowledge on this topicSummarize the steps taken in the simulationExplain any obtained results Discuss the conclusions and implications 1 Describe the overall objective and make a hypothesis. What is the overall purpose of the experiments or activities? Make a hypothesis. Recall that the hypothesis is a claim that answers a question or makes a prediction about an event that has not yet occurred. Hint: The purpose is often stated in the welcome message of the simulation (as shown in the example image below).1371600353415 For your entry make sure to include the following: * Include one statement that describes the overall objective in your own words. * Include one statement that describes the hypothesis. The aim of this specific lab simulation was to use the principles of clinical microbiology and laboratory diagnostics to isolate and confirm the type of bacterial pathogen involved in the epidemic affecting baby Kuppelfangs. In order to simulate the methods used in real bacteriological laboratories, the simulation was scheduled in a way that prioritized the importance of fast and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens in clinical diagnostics. The rationale for this exercise was that through a differential staining, culturing the bacterial isolate on selective media and performing catalase, oxidase, and indole tests it would be possible to identify the specific bacterium species causing the outbreak. Moreover, an additional check in terms of a nucleic acid-hybridization assay was also expected to confirm the initial characterization of these individuals as having active TB disease, making the diagnostic process highly accurate. 2 Introduce relevant background knowledge on this topic. What have you learned in class or researched on your own that would help prepare for this simulation? Hint: You can review the “THEORY” section in the simulation (as shown in the example image below)1876425333375 For your entry make sure to include the following: Include at least three important details from the lab “Theory” tab, the Lab Manual, or other resources, in your lab report that supports the simulation activity. Identification of pathogenic bacteria is one of the key prerequisites for adequate treatment and control of patients’ infection. In clinical microbiology, there are various methods used to differentiate bacteria or distinguishing between bacterial species. Among the commonly used methods there is the Gram staining that split bacteria into two groups regarding their cell wall: Gram positive and Gram negative. This initial categorization is important as it guides the subsequent testing procedures. Differential and selective media are used for cultivation of bacteria in conditions conducive to or that favors certain type of bacteria. These media contain certain nutrients and growth inhibitors that enhance the growth of specific type of bacteria and inhibit others from increasing. After the isolation process, the bacteria are subjected to biochemical tests in order to identify their metabolic characteristics. In the catalase test, the bacteria are tested for their capacity to break down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen while the oxidase test determines the presence of the cytochrome c oxidase enzymes (Vatopoulos, A. 2024). The indole test is a test used to determine the ability of bacteria to convert tryptophan into indole. Collectively, these tests create a biochemical profile that is instrumental in bacterial identification. The development of nucleic acid-hybridization assay as a rapid diagnostic test allows for identification of bacteria at the molecular level. This method has a high specificity as it identifies the bacteria through genetic style, and the results obtained are accurate and consistent (Tsuchida et al., 2020). These techniques do not only increase the possibility of reaching accurate diagnostics but also broaden our knowledge on the pathogen’s mechanisms of action and treatment options. 3 Summarize the steps taken in the simulation. Explain all steps you completed, including the equipment and techniques you used. Hint: You can use the “MISSION” tab in the LabPad as inspiration (as shown in the example image below).2447925352425 For your entry make sure to include the following: * Document each step you completed, including the equipment and techniques you used. 1 Sample Collection & Setup: I was able to collect the bacterial sample from an infected Kuppelfang by using a sterilized Swabs and containers while adhering in full to the aseptic procedures. 2 Gram Staining: Carried out a Gram stain process by preparing a slide smear followed by staining of the bacteria with crystal violet stain, iodine solution, decolorizing agent and safranin stain (Tsuchida et al., 2020). 3 Culturing on Differential Media: placed the sample on selective agar media, then grew in a controlled temperature, and atmospheric environment to ensure the colonies germinating from the sample were isolated. 4 Biochemical Testing: Performed the catalase test (using hydrogen peroxide), oxidase test (applying oxidase reagent on filter paper), and indole test (using a tryptophan medium with Kovac’s reagent) to develop a detailed metabolic profile. 5 Molecular Confirmation: Used a technique coupled with labeling nucleic acid to produce two samples of specific genetic probes for bacterial identification. 4 Describe any obtained results. Explain all obtained results. Were these results expected or unexpected? Hint: You can use the “MEDIA” tab in the Lab Pad to revisit relevant images from the simulation (as shown in the example image below).2190750342900 For your entry make sure to include the following: * Document the results from the simulation. * Document whether the results were expected or unexpected, and briefly explain why. Once colonies were established, a series of biochemical tests were performed to generate a detailed metabolic profile: The process of identification began with the Gram staining where the unknown bacterium without any doubt was identified as a gram-negative bacterium; this informed the choice of the appropriate selective media and biochemical tests to be conducted. Expectation was not different, and the samples grown on differential media did possess the expected morphological characteristics, which coincides with our initial identification. In biochemical tests, the colonies reacted positively (e.g., rapid formation of bubbles similar to yeast in the catalase test or color changes in the oxidase and indole tests) to the expected metabolic activities related to the suspected pathogen. The specific experiment of nucleic acid-hybridization defined the genetic essence of the organism, the result of overall identification (Torres et al., 2020). Small changes in the intensity of reactions were detected, and this could be as a result of slight differences in experimentation rather than a difference in the methods used. In overall, these integrated results demonstrated the repr...