MICROBIAL RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

RYAN JACOB C. AGDON

MARY JESRETH V. BAYAS
JANINE MAE M. DESCALLAR

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY- DASMARIAS

DASMARIAS CITY, CAVITE, PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT

Environmental conditions affect the growth and development of any living organisms. Microorganisms are the
classified according to how they are capable of growing and surviving such condition either physical or
chemical changes. Temperature, pH level, osmotic pressure and oxygen requirements were the key factors in
observing the representative species. The different microorganisms were able to survive in various condition
and are added to their microbial characteristics.

INTRODUCTION

Microbial growth refers to the increase of cell number, not in cell size unlike other organisms. They undergo
binary fission in a rapid but relatively simple process. Presently, microbiologists described the growth of
microorganisms under ideal laboratory conditions. Conversely, microbial activities are greatly affected by both
chemical and physical conditions of their environment. Many environmental conditions were considered.
Among them, four key factors play an important role in controlling the growth of microorganisms: temperature,
pH, solute concentrations, and oxygen. Microorganisms either adapt or adjust to such conditions in order to
change in cell number and used to monitor microbial growth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cultures of representative microorganisms were tested under different physical and chemical conditions. The
following were changed: temperature, pH, osmotic pressure using different concentrations of sucrose and
NaCl, and effect of oxygen. Specimens were divided into different environments and were incubated after 48
hours. Specimens were then observed after 48 hours and illustrated graphically based on results.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. TEMPERATURE

High or Low temperature has been one of the most important environmental factors affecting growth and
survival of microorganisms. The minimum and maximum temperatures vary greatly among species of
microorganisms. It is usually reflected by the range of temperature and average temperature of their habitats.
Since microorganisms cannot regulate their internal temperature, the enzymes in their body also have an
optimal temperature in order to function properly.
Cardinal temperature is the optimum temperature that is always nearer to the maximum than the minimum
range of temperature. It is not fixed thus it varies from different form of microorganisms.
Table 1.1 Temperature Ranges for Microbial Growth

Microorganisms Temperature

Psychrophiles 0C to 20 C

psychrotrophs 0C to 35 C

Mesophiles 20C to 45 C

Thermophiles 55C to 85 C

Hyperthermophiles 85C to 113 C

Table 1.2 Temperature Requirements of the Test Bacteria

Bacteria 4C 37C 55C

Bacillus strearothermophilis - + +

Pseudomonas aeruginosa - + -

Staphylococcus aureus - + -

Fig.1 Curve of Cardinal Temperature

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 120

Bacillus strearothermophilis Staphylococcus aureus

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Escherichia coli

Figure shows the temperature range of the following microorganisms:

Bacteria Minimum Optimal Maximum Classification

30 C 55C 70C Thermophiles

Bacillus strearothermophilis

4 C 38 C 42C Mesophiles
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

10C 37C 45C Mesophiles

Staphylococcus aureus

Escherichia coli 4 C 39 C 48 C mesophiles

A microorganism grows more slowly as the temperature ranges deviates because they follow a certain point
for optimal growth. Specific cells growth within well-defines temperature growth ranges. The metabolic activity
of the cells becomes more inactive as the temperature decreases. The explanation is supported in which
temperature for an organism can alter the cytoplasmic membrane and lipid composition. The upper and lower
values are a function for metabolism. At lower temperatures, molecules move slower, enzymes cannot mediate
in chemical reactions, and eventually the viscosity of the cell interior brings all activity to a halt. As the
temperature increases, molecules move faster, enzymes speed up metabolism and cells rapidly increase in
size. But, above a certain value all of these activities are proceeding at such high rates, enzymes start to
denature, and the total effect is detrimental. Cellular growth ceases.

D. Microbial Growth Response to pH

Acidity and alkalinity of a solution is expressed by a solutions pH on which 7 is the scale for neutrality. On the
pH scale, below 7 are known to be acidic while above 7 is called alkaline or basic. Each organism has a pH
range within which growth is potential and it is in a well-defined optimum pH.

Table 2.1 pH for Microbial Growth

Microorganisms pH

Acidophiles 0 5.5

Neutrophiles 7

Alkaliphiles 8.5 11.5

Table 2.2 Response of Microorganisms in Varied pH level

 Microorganism pH 4.5 pH 7 pH 8.5

Pseudomonas aeruginosa + + +

Staphylococcus aureus - + -

Escherichia coli - + +

Table 2.3 pH Requirement for Microbial Growth

Bacteria Minimum pH Optimal pH Maximum pH

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5.6 6.6 7.0 8.0

Staphylococcus aureus 4.2 7.0 9.3

Escherichia coli 4.4 6.0 7.0 9.0

Figure 2. Growth rate vs pH for three environmental classes of prokaryotes. Most free-living bacteria
grow over a pH range of about three units.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The optimal growth represents the pH of the extracellular environment of the cell is important to perform
cellular activities. The optimal pH level is the favorable pH for the growth of organism while the minimum or
maximum pH level ceases microbial growth. The pH of all cells are relatively neutral. If the pH of the
environment of is less than the pH of its cytoplasm, it will be hard to generate PMF required for ATP synthesis.
Bacterial growth rates greatly influence by pH & is largely based on nature of proteins.

Changes in the external pH also might alter the ionization of nutrient molecules and thus reduce their
availability to the organism. Bacteria have limitation to their acidity tolerance. .When the external pH is low, the
concentration of H+ is greater outside than inside and H + will move into the cytoplasm which lower internal
pH. Drastic variations in cytoplasmic pH can harm bacteria by disrupting the plasma membrane or inhibiting
the activity of enzymes and membrane tra nsport proteins. Most prokaryotes die if the internal pH drops much
below 5.0 to 5.5. Usually, the catalytic properties of the enzymes are lost and metabolism is halted.

E. Osmotic Pressure Requirements of Bacterial Growth

 Water is very important to any living organism. Water availability depends on the water present in the
microbial environment and the concentration of solutes such as salts, sugar and other substances that are
dissolved in water. By contrast, the organisms thrive at very low water activity. These organisms are of
interest not only from the standpoint of their adaptations to life under such conditions where solutes such as
salt and sucrose are commonly inhibits microbial growth.

Halophiles microorganisms capable of living with NaCl requirement. But optimum requirement
varies with the organism. It can be low ( 1-6%) and moderate ( 7-15% ) concentrations.

Halotolerant organisms can tolerate some reduction in the water of their environment. They
generally grow best in the absence of the added solute.

Saccrophilic - requires high sugar concentration for optimal growth.

Saccrotolerant microorganisms that are capable of living with the presence of sugar in
environment.

Bacteria Salt concentration Sucrose concentration

2.5 5.0 7.5 5 10

25
B. stearothermophilis + + + + + ++
E.coli + + + + ++ +
M. luteus + + + + + +
P. aeruginosa + + + + ++ ++

It is observed that all representative microorganisms were able to grow in different concentrations of salt and
sucrose. They can also be classified by their concentration requirement:

Halophilic - B. stearothermophilis

Halotolerant - E.coli

Saccrophilic - M. luteus

Saccrotolerant - P. aeruginosa

Figure 3. Microbial Growth in different Salt Concentration

 Figure 4. Microbial Growth in different Sucrose Concentration

F.

Oxygen Requirements of Bacterial Growth

Microorganisms vary in their need for, or tolerance in oxygen. These microorganisms were classified
depending on how oxygen affects them. Aerobes are microorganisms that have absolute
requirements for molecular O2 to carry out aerobic respiration. Microorganisms that can grow in the
absence of it is called anaerobe.

Obligate Aerobes Absolute requirement of oxygen to perform metabolic

processes.
 Microarophiles Also known as facultative aerobes, requires oxygen at lower
amount in a range o 2-10% for growth

Aerotolerant Anaerobes Simply ignores O2 and grows equally whether it is present

or not.

Facultative Anaerobes grow in the presence or absence of O2 , +O2: aerobic

respiration , -O2: fermentation

Inhibited or killed by oxygen. Strict anaerobes cannot

Obligate Anaerobes generate energy through aerobic respiration and employ
other metabolic strategies such as fermentation or
anaerobic respiration, neither of which requires O 2 .

Figure 4. Oxygen and Bacterial Growth.

Each dot represents an individual bacterial colony within the agar or on its surface. The surface, which is
directly exposed to atmospheric oxygen, is oxic. The oxygen content of the medium decreases with depth until
the medium becomes anoxic toward the bottom of the tube. The presence and absence of the enzymes
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase for each type are shown.

Figure 5. Oxygen and Bacterial Growth after 48 hours incubation period using the
representative microorganisms.
 P. auruginosa G. B.
Obligate stearothermophi stearothermophi
Aeorbic lis lis

S. aureus E. coli
Facultative Facultative
Anaeorbic Anaeorbic

CONCLUSION

Living organisms are very adaptable in different environmental conditions. We are classified
according to where we are capable of growing or survival making it our optimal growth phase or
environment. Microbiologist take further consideration the condition of microbial environment to
ensure its growth and development. Physical characteristics like temperature and chemical
characteristics on pH, solute concentration and oxygen requirements were observed as good factors
in identifying microbial identity. Difference in the ability to survive and grow shows the diversity of
minute living organisms.
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