EFFECT of Temperature
EFFECT of Temperature
EFFECT of Temperature
Bacteria and fungi can grow across a large spectrum of environmental conditions. Even
though the bacterium may grow well in the human body at 37 C at pH 7 conditions, it may
also be able to withstand out-of-the-ordinary pH, temperature, and osmotic pressure.
Basically, there are 3 large groups of microorganisms with respect to their temperature
preference---mesophiles, thermophiles, and psychrophiles. Animal pathogens are
mesophilic, growing well in the range of 20-45C. Psychrophiles have an optimal range below
mesophiles (even below freezing), while thermophiles grow at temperatures over 45C.
Interestingly, many organisms grow differently in different temperatures, and you have seen
evidence of this already in lab. In an earlier exercise, you should have noticed that the
orange-pigmented Serratia marcescens pigments at 25C but not at 37C. The prodigiosin
pigment, a waste product produced during certain metabolic pathways, is temperature-
dependent. Also, some fungi will change structure at these 2 temperatures. For example,
Candida albicans, the cause of thrush and yeast infections, will produce unicellular yeast
cells at 37C, but at 25C will produce chlamydiospores and hyphal filaments. Although
endospore-forming bacteria such as Bacillus can endure very high temperatures, these
bacteria do not optimally grow in those temperatures, hence the term thermoduric. The spore
wall composition and its dehydrated state make it very resistant to harsh environmental
conditions.
OBJECTIVES:
Optimal growth - 5 TSB tubes for your organism (your instructor will assign your table’s
bacteria)
2
LABORATORY REPORT SHEET
QUESTIONS:
1. Fill out the table below by PREDICTING where each type of organism would optimally
grow. Use a + sign to denote growth.
Organism 10 °C 25 °C 30 °C 37 °C 45 °C
Psychrophile
Mesophile
Thermophile
Hyperthermophile
3. Record the results of the extreme temperature exercise. Record your results by adding -,
+1, +2, or +3 for growth.
4. How do you determine which temperature is the optimal temperature for an organism?