It was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the Father of Microbiology, who first observed then described single-celled organisms, which are later called as microorganisms. In fact, with the help of a crude but still useful microscope, he was able to perform bacterial cells observation such as the study the muscle fibers of bacteria, human blood, and spermatozoa.
Moving forward, the process of studying bacteria has never been easier. Thanks to the evolution of technologies, microscopes included, people are gaining more insights even about the minutest of organisms, such as bacteria.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are regarded as one of the simplest structures of living organisms. They do not possess any membrane-protected nucleus. Thus, they are often classified as prokaryotes. In spite of their simplicity, they have tremendous metabolic capacities and can thrive even in the harshest living conditions on earth. Moreover, contrary to what many people will think, there’s merely a small percentage of them that can actually cause diseases.

There are known three shapes of bacterial cells, though they can actually demonstrate numerous forms if viewed under a microscope. They can either be rod shaped, round, or spiral. The rod-shaped bacteria is commonly called bacilli. Round bacteria, meanwhile, are called cocci. Understanding their basic shapes help in classifying and identifying the bacteria.

Standard Uses of Bacteria

Bacteria are commonly used to prepare fermented foods like soy sauce, vinegar, yogurt, and cheese, among others, especially when the bacteria is combined with molds and yeast.

Furthermore, it is used to replace pesticides in the area of biological pest control. It means using BT, or bacillus thuringiensis, which is a bacterium found in soil. Its subspecies are only used in insecticides with Lepidopteran, such as Thuricide and Dipel. Pesticides using them are considered as environment friendly with hardly any effects to insects, wildlife, pollinators, and, most of all, humans.

Identifying Bacterial Cells for Treatment

It is in the area of medicine, however, that observing bacterial cells play a key role. Isolating and identifying them help in fostering treatment. This is because bacterial diseases are caused by a variety of bacteria that entail various clinical consequences and courses. Conducting susceptibility testing, for example, of these isolates can aid in selecting the right medicines needed for therapy.

The usual procedure when sick individuals are suspected of bacterial infection is to separate visible colonies of these bacteria on agar plates; then they’re spaciated.

Basis for Identifying Bacterial Cells

Taxonomic principles shall be the basis in identifying bacterial cells. Normally, in diagnostic laboratories, there are many samples that will be described and which results are extremely needed. Tests should be therefore quickly learned, cost effective, and can be performed rapidly. Furthermore, the many traditional processes of bacteria speciation are based on the metabolic and morphological mechanisms of these bacteria.

The tests are chosen on their ability to report classified data. This is important as there are different tests for different kinds of pathogens.

Compound Light Microscope

A compound light microscope is an instrument commonly used in examining bacterial cells. The word “light” refers to the manner of transmitting image into your eye. This type of microscope contains two lenses. Early versions of microscopes are considered simple as they only possess with one lens. They function similarly like a magnifying glass. Of course, there’s the limitation when it comes to their magnification. A compound light microscope can increase your ability to view an organism by 1,000 times.

Step-by-Step Procedure in Observing a Bacteria

Before you formally start examining bacterial cells, you need to have the following:

-Bacterial slides
-Compound light microscope
-Lens paper
-Immersion oil
-Wipes

1. Prepare the bacterial slide. Do not forget to list down the name of the bacteria. Clean the slide with wipes and place it on the stage of the microscope. Make sure that the bacterial sample is visible.

2. Begin with a 4x objective. Adjust the stage until it reaches its lowest point. View the sample in the ocular and focus it upward until you can perfectly see the organism. To refine the image, utilize fine adjustment knob. Furthermore, to permit sufficient light to improve contrast and visibility, make adjustments of iris diaphragm.

3. Adjust the slide to your point of interest. Magnify the image up to 40x by adjusting the microscope’s fine focusing knob and the iris diaphragm. You’ll discover that the more you increase the objective lens’s power, the more it will decrease the distance of the specimen and the objective. Meanwhile, the more you increase magnification, the visible thickness and area decrease.

4. Using oil-immersion lens can increase magnification to 100x. The nosepiece should be rotated halfway, between 40x and 100x lens. Add an immersion oil drop into the slide and adjust the lens, fine focusing knob, and iris diaphragm.

In time, bacterial cell observation will pave the way for the discovery of more effective treatments of viral and bacterial infection.