Nicole Fair BIO 409-M003 March 28, 2012 Microbiology Lab Report: Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus (S.

aureus) is a common human microflora found mainly on the surface of skin and mucous membranes. S. aureus was first discovered in the 1800s by Alexander Ogston, a prominent Scottish surgeon (Microbial Fact Sheet). He compared the microbes he found to streptococcus, which had already been discovered and named. Staphylococcus resembles irregular grape bunches. The discovery of this microbe allowed surgeons like Ogston to be aware of the risk of a staph infection caused by surgery. In todays world, resistant strains of S. aureus are a major problem facing hospitals as asymptomatic health care workers are passing the infection to high infection risk patients (Microbial Fact Sheet). Furthermore, strains that carry S. aureus produce a number of extracellular enzymes or toxins, which is why S. aureus is the most problematic strain of staphylococcus. S. aureus is a non-motile species that is transferred to other people through human contact or contamination of food and water supplies. Approximately 30 percent of adults have staphylococcus in their nasopharynx at a given time (MRSA Fact Sheet). This doesnt mean the adult has an infection, but it does mean the individual can spread staph to another person. A common source of infection is by entering a swimming pool or spa when an infected individual is also in the water source (Microbial Fact Sheet). The microbes are able to adhere to the surface of the skin, potentially causing an infection. Furthermore, staph can be either aerobic or anaerobic. Most of the time staph is aerobic, meaning it

requires oxygen to grow and spread. The species S. aureus is a strict aerobe, meaning it grows at the top of the surface, where oxygen is most plentiful (Leboffe and Pierce 48). However, other species of staphylococcus are facultative anaerobes, meaning they can grow with or without oxygen. For the most part, staphylococcus requires oxygen, which is why it adheres to the skin or mucous membranes on humans. In addition, S. aureus does not form spores. This means that staph cannot replicate without fusing with another reproductive cell (Microbial Fact Sheet). There are many different tests that can be done with S. aureus that aid in the identification process and provide information about the species. As a result of these experiments, it is known that S. aureus is catalase positive, coagulase positive and Gram positive. The catalase test is used to determine if organisms produce catalase. For S. aurues, catalase is produced because it is aerobic and catalase converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, hence the bubbles (Leboffe and Pierce 165). S. aureus is highly resistant to an immune response because of the enzyme coagulase. The coagulase test is used to determine if S. aureus is the Gram-positive strain present in a sample. If a sample is tested using the coagulase test, the sample will clump because the plasma has been coagulated (Leboffe and Pierce 222). The gram stain test is used for colorization purposes, but also dictates the wall construction of the cells. S. aureus is gram positive, which means it has less lipids and is able to absorb the crystal violet complex because it doesnt have an outer membrane (Leboffe and Pierce 222). More tests can be done with S. aureus, which are shown in the table on the next page (Watson).

Test Gram Stain Acid-Fast Stain Endospore Stain Mannitol Salts Agar Eosin Methylene Agar Hektoen Enteric Agar Phenol Red Broth MVRP Catalase Oxidase Nitrate Reduction Citrate Decarboxylation Starch Hydrolysis Urea Casein Hydrolysis Gelatin Hydrolysis Lipid Hydrolysis SIM Blood Agar Coagulase Motility

Result + + +/+ + + + + + + Works Cited

Significance Less lipids; no outer membrane; high resistance Does not have mycolic acid Does not form spores Good growth and yellow; ferments manitol Inhibited by eosin and methylene blue Growth is partially to completely inhibited Contains the pH indicator Does not have acetoin Catalase is present; converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (bubbles) Cytochrome c oxidase not present Nitrate reduced Does not have acetyl coenzyme A No decarboxylation Does not have amaylase Partially hydrolyzes causing a slight color change Does not hydrolyze milk Gelatinase is present Does not hydrolyze, less lipids in membrane Dont have enzyme tryptophanase Beta hemolysis (complete) Differentiates S. aureus from other gram-positive cocci Nonmotile species

Leboffe, Michael J., and Burton E. Pierce. Microbiology Laboratory Theory & Application. 3rd ed. Colorado: Morton, 2010. Print.

"Microbial Fact Sheets." World Health Organization. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/en/>. "MRSA Fact Sheet." Pennsylvania Department of Health. 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <www.portal.state.pa.us/>. Watson, Rachel. Summary of Biochemical Tests. Web 26 Mar. 2012. http://www.uwyo.edu/molb2210_lab/info/biochemical_tests.htm#Mannitol