Author Profile

Dr. Alice Smeeton is a leading clinical microbiologist and educator with over two decades of experience tracking emerging pathogens and modernizing lab diagnostics. Known for her engaging and accessible teaching style, Dr. Alice bridges the gap between complex laboratory theory and everyday benchwork. In Practical Microbiology, she distills her extensive fieldwork and academic research into an indispensable, hands-on guide for the next generation of scientists. She specializes in antimicrobial resistance and rapid diagnostic testing methodologies. She is passionate about mentoring students and designing biosafety protocols for teaching laboratories. When she isn't peering through a microscope or writing, Dr. Alice enjoys exploring local biodiversity and volunteering for community science outreach programs. Her ultimate goal is to demystify the microbial world, making practical science approachable and exciting for everyone. Smeeton's work extensively focuses on translational regulation, bacterial physiology, and molecular biology. She has provided key insights into the cultivation of microbes and plaque assays for bacteriophages.

About The Book

Practical Microbiology is a comprehensive laboratory guide tailored for undergraduate, postgraduate, and research students in biology, medicine, and biotechnology. The textbook builds foundational skills in microbiological lab techniques, covering experiments. The book focuses on Fundamental Laboratory Techniques: Instruction on using microscopes, preparing culture media, sterilization, and aseptic transfers. Microbial Identification: Methods for isolating pure cultures, Gram staining, and determining biochemical characteristics. Applied Microbiology: Exploration of microbial genetics, industrial microbiology, environmental factors, and diagnostic bacteriology. Practical Microbiology provides fully updated practical aspects of medical Microbiology with clear-cut explanations. The book describes in detail including interpretations of results of routine diagnostic methods performed in Microbiology laboratory. Each chapter is illustrated with plenty of diagrams and photomicrographs. Practical experiments are highlighted; viva questions and answers are provided. This book is designed for students of medical and allied sciences to understand principles of various practical exercises carried out in the field of Microbiology and apply the same knowledge in clinical medicine. Practical Microbiology, provides basic, clear and concise knowledge and practical information about working with microorganisms. Useful to anyone interested in microbes, the book is intended to especially benefit four groups: trained microbiologists working within one specific area of microbiology; people with training in other disciplines, and use microorganisms as a tool or "chemical reagent."

Table of Contents

Preface
1.
WORK IN A MICROBIOLOGICAL LABORATORY ...............................................1
1.1 Biological safety level categories and the airborne route of pathogen transmission
1.2. The principle of containment, the setup and basic pieces of equipment of a microbiological laboratory
1.3. Biological safety cabinets
1.4. Behaviour and work in a microbiological laboratory
2.
STERILISATION AND DISINFECTION ...............................................................16
2.1. Procedures of sterilisation
2.2. Control of the efficacy of sterilisation equipment
2.3. Determination of the microbiological efficacy of disinfectants
3.
SAMPLING METHODS IN MICROBIOLOGY .....................................................27
3.1. Sampling for diagnostic purposes
3.2. Sampling from various environments
4.
INTRODUCTION TO THE USE OF
PRACTICAL LABORATORY MICROSCOPES.......................................................37
4.1. Bright-field light microscopy
4.2. Fluorescence microscopy
5.
CELL AND GERM-COUNTING METHODS ........................................................42
5.1. Determination of cell counts with micro scope
5.2. PCR-based cell counts
5.3. Determination of germ counts based on cultivation
6.
STRAIN CULTURE AND CULTIVATION-BASED TECHNIQUES ...........................55
6.1. Demonstration of microbes in the environment
6.2. Preparation of microbiological culture media
6.3. Basic bacterial cultivation techniques
6.4. Pheno- and genotypic characterisation of bacterial strains
7.
ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL
QUALITY OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS....................................................141
7.1. Microbiology of surface waters and waste waters,
hygienic control
7.2. Soil examinations
7.3. Examination of microorganisms participating in the
nitrogen cycle
7.4. Examination of microorganisms participating in the
sulphur cycle
8.
FERMENTATION PROCESSES
IN BIOTECHNOLOGY .....................................................................................161
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Data Analysis – Taxometrics
8.3 Basic Algological Methods
9.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL ........................................................................172
9.1 Supplementary Exercises
9.2. Taxon Information Sheets With Supplementary Figures
9.3. Test Results With Supplementary Figures
10.
BIOCHEMICAL ACTIVITIES OF
MICROORGANISMS.......................................................................................204
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Extracellular Enzymatic Activities Of Microorganisms
10.3 Carbohydrate Fermentation
10.4 Triple Sugar–Iron Agar Test
10.5 Imvic Test
10.6 Hydrogen Sulfide Test
10.7 Urease Test
10.8 Litmus–Milk Reactions
10.9 Nitrate Reduction Test
10.10 Catalase Test
10.11 Oxidase Test
10.12 Utilization Of Amino Acids
10.13 Genus Identification Of Unknown Bacterial Cultures
11.
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY.............................................................................266
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Microbial Flora Of The Mouth: Determination Of Susceptibility To Dental Caries
11.3 Normal Microbial Flora Of The Throat And Skin
11.4 Identification Of Human Staphylococcal Pathogens
11.5 Identification Of Human Streptococcal Pathogens
11.6 Species Identification Of Unknown Bacterial Cultures
Bibliography....................................................................................................308
Index...............................................................................................................320