Results of MR/VP Tests
MR/VP Test: Negative and Negative. After inoculating the MR/VP tube and allowing it to incubate overnight, we divided the medium into two test tubes evenly. In one test tube we added 5-6 drops of Methyl Red to test the ability of the bacterium to ferment glucose via mixed-acid fermentation. This test came back negative due to the lack of red color accumulation in the test tube. The other test tube we added 15 drops of Barritt’s reagent A and 5 drops of Barritt’s reagent B. This test also concluded negative due to lack of red color accumulation in the test tube.
Results of Motility, Oxidase and Thioglycollate Tests
By using hang-drop slide method we tested for motility of our unknown bacteria. Taking a sample from our cultured broth, we placed a small drop of bacteria-incoulated broth onto the slide cover and placed on the hang-drop slide. After observing under immersion oil we concluded that our unknown bacteria is not motile due to the lack of movement in the bacteria.
To determine if our unknown bacteria had cytochrome oxidase, we, using a crushable ampule, added fifteen drops of N,N,N,N tetraethyl-p-phenylenediamine, to a swab-ful of bacteria from an agar slant test tube. Because of the lack of purple color after ten seconds, we concluded that the test was negative for the presence of cytochrome oxidase.
Thioglycollate test: Aerobic. After leaving our inoculated Thioglycollate test tube in the incubator overnight, the bacteria only grew towards the top of the test tube, near the oxygen. From this we can conclude that our unknown bacteria is aerobic.