Brooke Martin
Candle jars are used in microbiology laboratories to grow bacteria that require specific environmental conditions, such as low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide concentrations. This technique is particularly useful for cultivating capnophiles, which are bacteria that thrive in high-carbon dioxide and low-oxygen environments. By burning a candle inside a sealed jar, the oxygen is consumed, and carbon dioxide levels increase, creating the perfect growth environment for certain bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium that can cause respiratory infections. Candle jars are also used to isolate anaerobic organisms, which are often associated with serious infections in humans, and can be challenging to culture due to their fastidious nature and the need for oxygen-free environments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bacteria Type | Capnophiles, Microaerophiles, Obligate |
| Bacteria Examples | Campylobacter jejuni, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| Environment | High CO2, Low O2 |
| Temperature | 37-42°C |
| Use | Laboratory studies, Cultivation, Growth medium |
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Capnophiles
Candle jars are a specific type of laboratory equipment used to cultivate capnophiles. The process involves placing a small candle inside a jar with a tight-fitting lid, along with the bacterial cultures. The candle is then lit, and the lid is quickly sealed. As the candle burns, it consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide through combustion, creating the preferred environment for capnophiles to grow. This method is effective for growing certain bacteria that thrive in high-CO2 and low-O2 conditions.
An example of a capnophilic bacterium is Haemophilus influenzae, which is often grown in candle jars for laboratory studies. Another example is Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which also requires elevated levels of carbon dioxide for optimal growth and is commonly cultured using this method. The use of candle jars to cultivate capnophiles is well-documented in microbiology, showing that the method successfully alters the gas composition to favour the growth of specific bacteria that are sensitive to oxygen levels.
The candle jar technique is particularly useful for studying pathogenic bacteria, which often have unique environmental needs. By using a candle jar, scientists can create a controlled environment with specific gas compositions, allowing them to understand the growth requirements of various bacterial species. This method is also useful for growing bacteria that require microaerophilic conditions, such as Campylobacter jejuni, which is a leading foodborne pathogen.
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Microaerophiles
A microaerophile is a microorganism that requires environments with lower levels of dioxygen than are typically present in the atmosphere for optimal growth. Specifically, microaerophiles require oxygen levels of less than 21% O2, with the typical range being 2-10% O2. The original definition of a microaerophile has been criticised for being overly restrictive and inaccurate compared to similar categories. The term microaerobe is now used more broadly to describe microbes that can respire oxygen within microoxic environments by using high-affinity terminal oxidase.
Many bacteria from sources such as the human body and underwater are microaerobes, and some of these are also microaerophiles. Some members of the Campylobacterales order are microaerophilic, including Helicobacter pylori, a species linked to peptic ulcers and some types of gastritis. Many members of Lactobacillus sensu lato are also microaerophiles. As facultative anaerobes, they can survive in anaerobic conditions but grow better with a small amount of oxygen present. Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and Magnetospira sp. QH-2 are aquatic microaerophilic magnetotactic bacteria.
Candle jars are a good alternative for cultivating Campylobacter species, which generally survive in environments with low oxygen. However, it is important to remember that they require a microaerobic atmosphere (c.a. 5% oxygen and 10% carbon dioxide) at a temperature of around 41.5°C to grow well.
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Obligate
In contrast, obligate aerobes are organisms that require oxygen to survive. They possess enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidases to detoxify reactive oxygen molecules. When faced with temporary oxygen deprivation, some obligate aerobes, like Mycobacterium smegmatis, employ survival strategies by switching between fermentative hydrogen production and hydrogen oxidation.
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Anaerobic bacteria
The candle jar technique is a specific type of environment often used to grow bacteria known as capnophiles, which are bacteria that thrive in conditions where there is a high concentration of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen. The process involves placing a bacterial culture inside a jar with a tight-fitting lid along with a lit candle. As the candle burns, it consumes oxygen and increases carbon dioxide levels, creating an environment conducive to capnophiles.
Candle jars are also used to cultivate certain microaerophiles, which require elevated carbon dioxide levels to grow. The McIntosh-Fildes jar was an important breakthrough in the field of anaerobic bacteriology. The modified candle-jar system, developed by Maiti et al, is a cost-effective method to isolate anaerobes from clinical samples.
To use the modified candle-jar system, inoculated Wilkins-Chalgren blood agar plates are placed at the bottom of a 1000 ml capacity jar. An open plate containing acidified copper sulphate-treated steel wool and a candle is kept on top of the inoculated plates, with a methylene blue strip inside the jar as an indicator of anaerobiosis. The candle is lit, and the jar is tightly closed. The candle burns oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, and the treated steel wool absorbs any remaining oxygen. The jar is then placed in an incubator at 37°C for 48 hours to examine growth and colony size.
Candle jars can also be used to determine the oxygen needs of a bacterium by growing it in different oxygen environments, including atmospheric oxygen, no oxygen, and reduced oxygen.
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Campylobacter jejuni
Candle jars are often used to create microaerophilic environments for the growth of certain bacteria. The candle jar technique is a specific method that involves placing bacterial cultures inside a jar with a tight-fitting lid, lighting a candle, and quickly sealing the jar. As the candle burns, it consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, creating an environment with lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide concentrations.
However, at 37 degrees Celsius, candle jars should not be used for the isolation of C. jejuni from human feces, as some positive cultures may be missed. This is because C. jejuni grows optimally in microaerophilic environments with specific temperature and oxygen requirements. Candle jars can help create these conditions by lowering oxygen levels, but the temperature must also be carefully controlled for successful cultivation.
In summary, candle jars are a useful tool for cultivating Campylobacter jejuni, particularly at temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius. By altering the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, candle jars provide the microaerophilic environment that C. jejuni requires for growth. However, the specific temperature range and oxygen concentration must also be considered for successful isolation and cultivation.
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Frequently asked questions
Capnophiles, which are bacteria that grow in environments with higher carbon dioxide concentrations and lower oxygen levels than are present in the atmosphere.
Candle jars are containers with tight-fitting lids that hold both bacterial cultures and a small candle. The candle is lit and quickly sealed, burning oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, creating an environment suitable for capnophiles.
Haemophilus influenzae, which can cause respiratory infections, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are examples of capnophiles often grown in candle jars.
Other methods to grow capnophiles include the Anoxomat technique and the anaerobic glove box technique, which are used in some sophisticated laboratories.
Candle jars can also be used to grow microaerophiles, which require elevated carbon dioxide levels to grow. An example of a microaerophile is Campylobacter jejuni, which grows at temperatures between 37 and 42 degrees Celsius.
