World of Microbiology

The word plasm come from Greek word plasma which means ‘to shape’. In medical science Plasm can be used as prefix or suffix e.g. plasma membrane and protoplasm respectively. –plasm, with the meaning of “living substance” or “substance of cell” used to form compound words. So here are few compound words where –plasm used as suffix. Axoplasm Cytoplasm Deutoplasm Ectoplasm Endoplasm Hyaloplasm Mitoplasm Neoplasm Nucleoplasm Periplasm Protoplasm Sarcoplasm Tonoplasm Being learners sometimes we may confused with them. So here are the meaning of some of these terms. Cytoplasm : It is gel like substance within a cell enclosed by cell membrane. Cytoplasm includes all material inside the cell but outside the nucleus, in other words cell nucleus is not the part of the cytoplasm.  . Cytoplasm is colorless made up of 80% water, proteins, salts and minerals. Most of the cellular activities take place in...

Salt lakes/Soda lakes Definition Salt lakes are naturally occurring highly alkaline aquatic bodies, widely spread throughout the world. Salt lakes are ecosystem with extremely high pH (up to 11) and salinity (up to saturation) due to the presence of high concentrations of sodium carbonate. Salt lakes, located in Kenya and Tanzania (Bogoria, Magadi, Natron), in Egypt (Wadi Natrun), and California (Mono Lake) are good example of typical salt lakes. Another area abundant in saline alkaline lakes is Central Asia (south Siberia and north-east China). Here the lakes are much smaller, more shallow, and water regimen is unstable due to freezing winter period which cause fluctuations of the water salinity and temperature. There are so many salt lakes and salt deserts around the world. Some of them are listed below.           source:  https://d-nb.info/968508480/34 Formation of Salt Lakes One of the theory suggest that rocks...

Sometime during our studies we come across many terms and words which we do not remember or we are not familiar with. In that situation either we consult a dictionary or google the word. So I thought about to make a series which give general overview of microbiology related terms. I am trying to provide as much as possible. So today the word is Actinomycetes. Definition Actinomycetes also called as Actinobacteria are unicellular, gram positive, rod shaped, spore forming, and facultative anaerobic bacteria. They don’t have true cell wall like bacteria and can produce mycelium like fungi and because of this noted ability, actinomycetes also known as connected link between bacteria and fungi. Discovery The term actinomycetes means “ray fungus” in Greek.  It is first discovered by Ferdinand Cohn in 1875 from human lacrimal duct and named it  Streptothrix foersteri . In 1878, C.O. Harz named an organism that he isolated from a case of bovine lumpy jaw, as...

Sometime during our studies we come across many terms and words we do not remember or we don't have an idea about. In that case we have to consult a dictionary or have to google the word.So here I am to give  general overview of terms related to microbiology as much as possible. In coming days I will write detailed work and new research findings about the topic. So today the word is actin.   Definition A cellular protein that give important contribution in muscle and cell contraction in connection with myosin protein is called actin. Properties Actin protein is a monomeric subunit of microfilament which is one of the major component of cytoskeleton and it is also a part of contractile apparatus of muscle cell. Mass: 47 kDa Diameter: 4-7nm Forms G-actin:- It is a monomeric globular protein. F-actin : - It is a polymeric fibrous actin. Presence Most abundant protein in eukaryotic cells. Actin present in cytoplasm of cel...

Definition Diverse group of obligate anaerobic bacteria which can derive energy only by anaerobic  respiration (fermentation) and/or by ion gradient-driven phosphorylation are called acetogens and the process involved is called acetogenesis. Characteristics Acetogens carried out unique pathway called Wood-Ljungdahl pathway also known as reductive acetyl- CoA pathway which helps bacteria to grow in anaerobic conditions.  They need strict anaerobic environment for growth.  Acetogens use one carbon compound as substrate such as carbon dioxide, formate, methyl groups and carbon monoxide etc. and use H 2  as energy source. Acetogens generates acetate (CH 3 CHOO - ) as an end product of anaerobic respiration or fermentation.  Acetate is the main end product of acetogenesis, but many other natural products such as butyrate, butanol, 2, 3-butanediol, and ethanol can also be produced by acetogens.  Acetogens employ acetyl-CoA as a k...