UNAIR NEWS – Microorganisms or microbes are living organisms that are very small and can only be observed with microscope. Microorganisms can be found in the human body, food, drink, and live in various places. Several kinds of bacteria often found in water can harm the human such as E. coli bacteria.
The Biology Student Association (HIMBIO) has a Microbiology Study Club (MSC) focusing on studying the field of microbiology and studying living things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
“In the club, we usually introduce laboratory tools, train members on how to sterilize laboratory equipment, introduce types of bacterial growth media, train bacterial isolation, sampling and identify bacteria,” said Khafid Jallaludhin as MSC chairman interviewed on Monday, January 13, 2020.
Khafid explained that he had conducted research on Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bacteria in Tahura Raden Soerjo and on cellulolytic molds in Alas Purwo National Park. “Last time, we also tested ice tea samples from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) canteen and there were several samples containing E. coli bacteria,” he said.
At that time Khafid along with other MSC members tested ice tea samples from FST canteen. Iced tea was chosen as a sample because not only that it is cheap, but all stalls in canteen serve the drink.
“After buying iced tea as a research sample, we brought the sample into the lab and inoculated the sample into a petri dish that already contains the media using the spread method. The cup which has been filled by the sample was then incubated within 2 x 24 hours and it turned out that almost all of the samples in the cup are overgrown by a colony of E. coli bacteria, ” he explained.
Khafid then gave a conclusion that iced tea sold in the FST canteen was not all safe for consumption because in several samples of iced tea are positive containing E.coli bacteria which could be harmful to human health.
Author: Fahmi Royani
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
