The document discusses the basic nutritional requirements of microorganisms. It notes that microbes require nutrients like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur for biosynthesis and energy. These nutrients are obtained from both inorganic and organic sources. Microorganisms are also classified based on how they obtain carbon and energy, into four main types: photolithotrophs, photoheterotrophs, chemolithotrophs and chemoheterotrophs. The document provides details on the various microbial growth factors and nutritional types.

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QADRI COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, KARACHI
6. BASIC NUTRITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
Faculty: Aftab H. Abbasi
RN, DCHN, BSN, MA, LL.B
Lecturer Nursing
Qadri College of Health Sciences Karachi
QADRI COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, KARACHI

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
INTRODUCTION:
Nutrients are substances used in
biosynthesis and energy release and
therefore are required for microbial
growth.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
Essential Nutrients:
The sources of common essential nutrients
are:
1- Carbon
2- Hydrogen
3- Nitrogen
4- Oxygen
5- Phosphorus
And
6- sulfur.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
NUTRITIONAL TYPES OF MICROBES:
Microbes can be grouped nutritionally on
the basis of how they satisfy their
requirements for carbon, energy, and
electrons or hydrogen. Indeed, the
specific nutritional
requirements of microorganisms are
used to distinguish one microbe from
another for taxonomic purposes.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
Four nutritional types of microorganisms:
1. Photolithotrophic autotrophy
(they utilize light energy, with the inorganic compound water serving as the ultimate electron donor)
2. Photo-organotrophic heterotrophy
(Photoheterotrophs (Gk: photo = light, hetero = (an)other, troph = nourishment)
are heterotrophic phototrophs – that is, they are organisms that use light for energy)
3. Chemolithotrophic autotrophy
(Chemolithotrophy is a type of metabolism where energy is obtained from the oxidation of
inorganic compounds)
4. Chemo-organotrophic heterotrophy.
(“Chemoheterotroph” is the term for an organism which derives its energy from chemicals, and
needs to consume other organisms in order to live. ... These organisms – almost always bacteria –
require both inorganic chemical energy sources, and other organisms whose organic materials
they can consume, in order to survive)

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
Microorganisms may be grouped on the
basis of their energy sources. Two
sources of energy are available
to microorganisms. Microbes that oxidize
chemical compounds (either organic or
inorganic) for energy
are called chemotrophs; those that use
light as their energy sources are
called phototrophs.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS
A combination of these terms with those employed in describing
carbon utilization results in the following nutritional types:
1.
Chemoautotrophs: microbes that oxidize inorganic
chemical substances as sources of energy and carbon dioxide as
the main source of carbon.
2.
Chemoheterotrophs: microbes that use organic chemical substances
as sources of energy and organic compounds as the main source
of carbon.
3.
Photoautotrophs: microbes that use light as a source of energy and
carbon dioxide as the main source of carbon.
4.
Photoheterotrophs: microbes that use light as a source of energy and
organic compounds as the main source of carbon.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS

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The common nutrients which are found to be required
in all living things include carbon, nitrogen, sulfur,
phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium,
oxygen, iron and additional trace elements.
• Both macro- and micro-nutrients are critical in proper
organismal growth as they play important roles in
cellular and metabolic processes.
• The limiting nutrient is essential for growth and
based on its concentration and presence or absence
can control growth.
Key Terms
• micronutrient: an element or nutrient required in
small quantities.
• macronutrients: any element or nutrient required in
large amounts.

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS

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BASIC NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
MICROORGANISMS

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