Junior Microbiologist

10+ Junior Microbiologist Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Updated 19 Jun 2024

Q1. Types of microorganisms & principle of gram staining

Ans.

Microorganisms are classified into bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. Gram staining is a differential staining technique.

  • Bacteria are classified into gram-positive and gram-negative based on their cell wall composition

  • Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and stain purple

  • Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer and stain pink

  • Gram staining is used to identify bacterial species and determine appropriate treatment

  • Other microorganisms l...read more

Q2. What do you know about environmental monitoring?

Ans.

Environmental monitoring involves the systematic sampling and analysis of air, water, soil, and other environmental factors to assess the impact of human activities.

  • Environmental monitoring helps to identify potential sources of pollution and assess the effectiveness of pollution control measures.

  • It involves collecting samples from various environmental media such as air, water, and soil, and analyzing them for pollutants or contaminants.

  • Monitoring can be done through on-site...read more

Q3. 3 examples of fungi,5 examples of gram positive, five example of gram negative organisms?

Ans.

Fungi, gram-positive, and gram-negative organisms are crucial in microbiology, with diverse roles in health and disease.

  • Fungi examples: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger.

  • Gram-positive examples: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes.

  • Gram-negative examples: Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Q4. Types of sterilization, basic instrumentation information

Ans.

Sterilization methods include heat, radiation, chemicals, and filtration. Basic instrumentation includes autoclaves and incubators.

  • Heat sterilization: autoclaving, dry heat

  • Radiation sterilization: gamma rays, UV light

  • Chemical sterilization: ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide

  • Filtration sterilization: membrane filtration

  • Basic instrumentation: autoclaves, incubators

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Q5. Types of biochemical tests and their principles

Ans.

Biochemical tests are used to identify microorganisms based on their metabolic activities.

  • Catalase test - detects the presence of catalase enzyme

  • Oxidase test - detects the presence of cytochrome c oxidase enzyme

  • Indole test - detects the production of indole from tryptophan

  • Urease test - detects the presence of urease enzyme

  • Citrate test - detects the ability of microorganisms to use citrate as a sole carbon source

Q6. What is microbial limit testing?

Ans.

Microbial limit testing is a process used to determine the total number of viable microorganisms present in a sample.

  • It involves testing for the presence of bacteria, yeast, and mold in a sample.

  • The results help determine if the sample meets regulatory requirements for microbial contamination.

  • Microbial limit testing is commonly used in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

  • Examples of tests include total aerobic microbial count, total yeast and mold count, and specifi...read more

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Q7. What is spore forming organisms?

Ans.

Spore forming organisms are bacteria that have the ability to form spores, which are dormant structures that allow the bacteria to survive in harsh conditions.

  • Spore forming organisms can be found in various environments such as soil, water, and even the human body.

  • Examples of spore forming organisms include Bacillus and Clostridium species.

  • Spores are highly resistant to heat, chemicals, and radiation, allowing the bacteria to remain viable for long periods of time.

Q8. Difference between Fungi and bacteria?

Ans.

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that reproduce through spores and have cell walls made of chitin, while bacteria are prokaryotic organisms that reproduce through binary fission and have cell walls made of peptidoglycan.

  • Fungi are eukaryotic, while bacteria are prokaryotic

  • Fungi reproduce through spores, bacteria reproduce through binary fission

  • Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan

Q9. Types of environmental monitoring?

Ans.

Types of environmental monitoring include air quality monitoring, water quality monitoring, soil quality monitoring, and noise monitoring.

  • Air quality monitoring involves measuring pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, and carbon monoxide in the air.

  • Water quality monitoring includes testing for contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals in bodies of water.

  • Soil quality monitoring assesses factors like pH levels, nutrient content, and presence of pollutants ...read more

Q10. Difference between QC and QA?

Ans.

QA focuses on preventing defects in the product, while QC focuses on identifying defects in the product.

  • QA stands for Quality Assurance, while QC stands for Quality Control.

  • QA is process oriented, focusing on preventing defects in the product, while QC is product oriented, focusing on identifying defects in the product.

  • QA involves activities like process audits, training, and documentation reviews, while QC involves activities like inspections, testing, and sampling.

  • Example: ...read more

Q11. Gram staining principal?

Ans.

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

  • Gram staining involves staining bacterial cells with crystal violet, iodine, alcohol, and safranin.

  • Gram-positive bacteria retain the crystal violet stain and appear purple under a microscope.

  • Gram-negative bacteria lose the crystal violet stain and take up the safranin counterstain, appearing pink or red.

  • The difference in staining is due to the diff...read more

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