Interview Questions and Answers

CFU stands for Colony Forming Unit.

• CFU is a unit of measurement used in microbiology to estimate the number of viable cells or organisms in a sample.

• It is commonly used in the field of microbiology and pharmaceuticals.

• CFU is determined by counting the number of colonies that grow from a single cell or organism on a solid growth medium.

• It is used to assess the concentration of microorganisms in a sample, such as bacteria or yeast.

• CFU is often used in quality control and resear...read more

Microbes can be isolated through various techniques such as streak plating, serial dilution, and selective media.

• Streak plating: A small amount of sample is streaked onto an agar plate to obtain isolated colonies.

• Serial dilution: The sample is diluted multiple times and plated onto agar plates to obtain isolated colonies.

• Selective media: Specific nutrients or chemicals are added to the agar to selectively promote the growth of certain microbes.

• Other techniques include filtrat...read more

Gram staining is a technique used to differentiate bacteria into two major groups based on their cell wall composition.

• Gram staining helps in the identification and classification of bacteria.

• It involves a series of steps including fixation, staining, decolorization, and counterstaining.

• The primary stain used is crystal violet, followed by iodine treatment to form a complex.

• Decolorization with alcohol or acetone differentiates bacteria into Gram-positive (retain stain) and Gr...read more

Staining is a technique used to enhance the contrast of a specimen for better visualization under a microscope.

• Staining involves applying dyes or chemicals to a sample to highlight specific structures or components.

• Common types of staining include simple stains (e.g. methylene blue) and differential stains (e.g. Gram stain).

• Staining is widely used in microbiology, histology, and pathology to aid in the identification and study of cells and tissues.

A fermentor is a vessel used for fermentation processes in industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

• Fermentor is a vessel where microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, or fungi are used to produce products through fermentation.

• Types of fermentation include aerobic fermentation (with oxygen) and anaerobic fermentation (without oxygen).

• Examples of fermentation products include beer, wine, yogurt, and antibiotics.

• Fermentors are equipped with sensors, controllers, an...read more

Sterilization methods include heat, chemicals, radiation, and filtration to kill or remove microorganisms.

• Heat sterilization: Autoclaving, dry heat, flaming

• Chemical sterilization: Ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide

• Radiation sterilization: Gamma radiation, electron beam

• Filtration sterilization: Membrane filtration, depth filtration

Management of insect pests of crop involves various strategies to control and minimize damage caused by insects.

• Implementing integrated pest management (IPM) practices

• Using biological control methods such as introducing natural enemies of pests

• Utilizing chemical control with pesticides as a last resort

• Regular monitoring of pest populations and crop damage

• Crop rotation and diversification to reduce pest pressure