microbial growth
Cultures spreading rapidly
Microbial growth is the increase in number of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, viruses—through reproduction.
The term appears in food safety, medicine, and biology: The sample showed significant microbial growth after 24 hours.
Growth can be desirable (fermentation, probiotics) or harmful (infection, spoilage).
Laboratory cultures measure microbial growth to identify pathogens or test antibiotics.
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- cell divisionParent splitting into offspring
- sporulationForming hardy reproductive cells
- binary fissionAsexual splitting into two
fermentation · antibiotics · pH levels · pathogens · colony · slime · mold · bioreactor · cell culture · sterile technique · turbid · mildew · mat · bloom · rot · swab · contamination · spores
microbial growthcell death
Cessation of cellular life
population collapse · die-off · lysis · apoptosis · necrosis
microbial growthsterility
Absence of microbes or fertility
sterile conditions · sterile field · asepsis · disinfection · sterilization
microbial growthsterilization
Complete elimination of microbes
disinfection · pasteurization · decontamination · sanitization · autoclaving