Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: Bonnie85 on 03/01/2020 13:10:02

Title: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: Bonnie85 on 03/01/2020 13:10:02: Hi,

I'm a kindergarten teacher and in desperate need of help! ::)

I want to do an experiment with bacteria next week, and I found a lot of examples online where people put different slices of bread in bags to examine bacterial growth. They compare a clean slice of bread with a slice that has been touched with dirty hands (for example), after being in the bag for a week or so. Sounds awesome! But here's what I don't understand; in every example, the dirty bread gets very mouldy. But mould, or fungi, is something completely different from bacteria, and bacteria don't attract mould. They even don't like each other if I'm correct. So how does this work? ???

I really hope someone can help me out here, because I can't do the experiment if I can't explain it and it looks so much fun! ;D

Thank you!

Kind regards,
Bonnie Edens
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: RD on 03/01/2020 13:37:03: Quote from: Bonnie85 on 03/01/2020 13:10:02
... it looks so much fun! ...

Bonus: Exposure to the cultured bacteria could get you and the class time-off school,
see ... https ://youtu.be/1xuEowtB7qg?t=164 (https://youtu.be/1xuEowtB7qg?t=164)
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: Bonnie85 on 03/01/2020 13:50:00: WHOAA that is so gross! ;D Thank you for this awesome video!! Maybe I'll do this experiment instead. :P

Can we imply that it's not mould that's growing on the slices of bread, but only bacteria? :)
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: Colin2B on 03/01/2020 17:47:31: Quote from: Bonnie85 on 03/01/2020 13:50:00
Can we imply that it's not mould that's growing on the slices of bread, but only bacteria? :)
The majority of bread spoilage is caused by moulds, usually green, but also white and black. There are some common bacterial spoilages eg rope forming and also one which turns the surface red. All of these are present on our hands.

Be careful to keep the mouldy bread in a container as breathing the spores is not a good idea.
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: evan_au on 03/01/2020 21:57:29: The microbiome on our skin and intestines is very diverse, consisting of fungus, bacteria and viruses, all of which go around attacking each other (and sometimes, us).

Some parts of our gastrointestinal tract has no oxygen, and so anaerobic bacteria can grow there, which wouldn't live on our skin (too much oxygen in the air).

Mostly our microbiome is in some kind of balance, with the "friendly" ones keeping the unfriendly ones under control. But antibiotics can sometimes decimate the friendly ones, and the unfriendly ones take control.

If children touch the bread with dirty hands, they may also transfer bacteria that they picked up from the soil; these would not find a permanent home on our skin, but they can survive long enough to transfer onto food.

We also carry around with us some larger guests, like the eye mites which live in our eyelashes (and sometimes, worms in our intestines).
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: Bonnie85 on 04/01/2020 00:00:20: OMG those eye mites, yuckk!! 0.o

All very clear now, and makes sense! I will be making some nasty rainbow bread next week. ;D

Thanks guys and/or gals! ^_^ (and also thanks for the tip to keep the bags closed, will do that!)
Title: Re: How do bacteria on food improve the growth of mould?
Post by: marcus1RM on 28/01/2020 14:38:34: Yep, healing process can hurt...