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Unknown Report



In order to figure out my unknown, I had to perform several tests. The first thing I had to do was a gram stain to determine whether my unknown was gram-positive or gram-negative, and to determine its cell morphology. I performed the gram stain and under the microscope was unclear whether it was gram-negative or gram-positive, as well as the cell morphology. So, in order to figure out if it was gram-negative or gram-positive I performed three different tests. These tests consisted of Mannitol Salt Agar, McConkey Agar, and Blood Agar. The results were growth on the Mannitol Salt Agar and the McConkey Agar, but no growth on the Blood Agar. These results lead me to the conclusion that my bacterium was gram-negative. After these tests I still needed to figure out my cell morphology so I proceeded to do a glucose fermentation test which was Phenol Red Glucose. My results from the Phenol Red Glucose test were positive for glucose fermentation, which caused the results of the broth to be yellow with gases in the durham tube. Since the Phenol Red Glucose test came back positive I knew that my bacterium was rod (bacillus), and that I needed to perform a Motility test. My test results for the Motility test came back positive, and my bacterium was swarming on my Nutrient Agar. I then performed a Urease and a Triple Sugar Iron Agar test. My Urease test came back positive, and my Triple Sugar Iron Agar test results came back as glucose and lactose and/or sucrose fermentation (A/A). After performing all these tests and getting all the results back from the tests, I finally was lead to the conclusion that my unknown bacterium was Proteus hauseri.