VIRTUALUNKNOWN™ MICROBIOLOGY 3.0

 

VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology is a lab simulation that assigns you an unknown microbe at the beginning of each session. It is then up to you to perform tests in order to identify your mystery microbe! Over 50 familiar and common tests and than 124 bacterial species are included.

 

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology is supported on the Microsoft® Operating Systems, including the following versions:  

 

·         Windows® 98™

·         Windows® ME™

·         Windows® 2000

·         Windows® XP®.

 

Minimum requirements are:

 

·         64MB RAM

·         50MB hard disk space

·         800x600 resolution monitor (SVGA)

·         2MB or more video graphics card (65K color depth palette).

 

A 500MHz or faster processor is recommended, and for use of the university lab server, an internet connection is required (broadband is recommended, but dialup will suffice).

 

 

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

 

You only need to install the software once. You need only to download the software if you do not have access to a copy already (that is, if a friend or your school has downloaded the software and made a CD, then you can use that rather than download again).

 

Run the installation package you downloaded when you purchased VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology (or use one downloaded by a friend or your university).

 

Follow the instructions you see on screen:

 

1.       Read the Welcome screen, then click NEXT to continue.

 

2.       To accept the End User License Agreement (EULA), click YES. The software will not install if you do not accept the terms of the EULA.

 

3.       Read the user information that appears, then click NEXT.

 

4.       You will be asked to select an installation directory.  It is recommended that you use the default directory specified where it says "Destination Folder." Click NEXT to continue.

 

5.       You will be prompted for a program folder into which shortcuts will be placed to launch the software.  The program folder refers to the entry in the Start-->Programs bar where the software will be found.  It is recommended that you use the default program folder specified by the installer.  Click NEXT to continue.  Click YES to create a shortcut to the program on your desktop.

 

6.       Review the installation settings, then click NEXT to begin copying program files to your computer.  Use the BACK button to change/correct any previously entered information.

 

7.       The install will they copy files to your hard drive. This should only take a few seconds.  You may be prompted to re-start your computer.  If so, be sure to close all applications you have running on the computer and then click FINISH to re-start your computer.

 

 

GETTING STARTED GUIDE

 

If you did not have to re-start your computer, then once you are done with installation, the program should automatically launch you into the registration process. If you had to re-start, then click Start-->Programs-->VirtualUnknown-->Microbiology Student Laboratory 3.0 to launch the virtual laboratory software.

 

Work through the tutorial (it is mandatory before entering the lab software). The tutorial should only take about 5 minutes.

 

USING THE VIRTUAL LAB

 

You may use the following guidelines as a summary to the steps detailed in the Tutorial:

 

1.       Enter the Virtual Lab by clicking on the three interlocking rings.

 

2.       Click the New button (with the biohazard symbol close to the top center of the screen) to have the program randomly generate an unknown. Enter a unique name for the Unknown (i.e. Unknown #1). Read the Case Study, then close the window. The Gram Stain will then appear. Evaluate the gram stain image, choose the appropriate morphology, and select “Record Gram Reaction” to close the window.

 

3.       Click on the Test Reference button.  This is the square yellow button with "T?" on it.  Scroll down the list of tests until you find the one you wish to perform, and click on it. [Try "Methyl Red" to start off.] The window on the right will give you background on the test: what its purpose is, what medium you need to use, whether or not you will need to add any reagents, and step-by-step instructions for performing the test.  PRINT THIS OUT and have it on hand before performing the test for the first time. Click X at top of the window to close it.

 

4.       Follow the step-by-step instructions on your Test Reference printout. In general, they will consist of the following steps:

 

(a)     Select a medium from the Media pull-down menu and provide a label for it. Your Test Reference printout will tell you which medium you need. You will see two test tubes appear on screen. The one on the left is your unknown, the one on the right is the medium you selected. [If you see one test tube and one plate instead of two test tubes, go to the section titled TUBE-TO-PLATE TRANSFERS following step (q).]

(b)     There is a list of tools that you can use in the virtual laboratory. Select an inoculating tool (the loop or the wire). (Again, use the specific tool that your Test Reference printout indicates). Your pointer (which currently looks like a hand with the index finger pointing) will become the shape of the tool you select.

(c)     Turn on your Bunsen burner by positioning your mouse on the burner and clicking the right mouse button. Then click "On."

(d)     Sterilize the inoculating tool by moving it over to the flame and holding it there.  The tip of the tool will soon turn red, indicating that it has been sterilized.

(e)     Click on the right test tube with your right mouse button.  Select Remove Cap/Lid.

(f)       Click on the left test tube with your left mouse button.  Keeping the left mouse button depressed, drag the tubes over to the flame.  Position the rim of the right test tube directly over the flame until you see a note appear on the bottom of the screen "Medium xxx flamed." Then position the rim of the left test tube directly over the flame until you see a note appear on the bottom of the screen "Inoculum flamed." Your left mouse button should remain depressed the entire time.

(g)     Let go of the mouse button.  The tubes will return to their original position.

(h)     Slowly dip your inoculating tool (i.e.your mouse pointer) into the bottom of the left test tube, entering from the top of the test tube; then bring the tool back up. At the bottom of the screen, you should see a note appear: "Inoculum stabbed." If not, repeat the dipping action until you see the note. Next, dip the tool into the bottom of the right test tube, again entering from the top of the tube. Bring the tool back up.  You should see a note appear at the bottom of the screen: "Medium xxx successfully inoculated."

(i)       Repeat step (f), flaming the rims of the tubes again.

(j)       Click on the right test tube with your right mouse button, then select Replace Cap/Lid.

(k)     Click on the right test tube with your left mouse button. Keeping the button down, drag the tube to either the incubator on the left (25 degrees) or the incubator on the right (37 degrees). Consult your Test Reference printout to determine which incubator to use.  The incubators are the two storage units on your screen with the orange Warning labels on them. Both tubes will disappear when you deposit the medium tube into the incubator.

(l)       Click on the Bunsen burner with your right mouse button and turn it off.

(m)   Click the New Day button to indicate a time passage of 24 virtual hours.

(n)     Using your right mouse button, click on the incubator in which you deposited your test tube. A pop-up window will appear; click on it.  Your medium tube will reappear on screen.

(o)     Consult your Test Reference printout to see if you need to add reagents.  If not, go to the step (p). If so, select the dropper tool from the pull-down selection menu underneath the Session pull-down to change your pointer to a dropper. Next, click on the Reagent pull-down menu and select the proper reagent. Click on your test tube with the right mouse button and remove the cap/lid. Position your dropper over the rim of the test tube and click the left mouse button to release drops of the reagent. You should see "xxx successfully added to xxx" appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the appropriate inoculating tool to change your pointer back to the tool. Click on the test tube with right mouse button and replace the cap/lid.

(p)     Click on the test tube with the right mouse button and click Record Results.  Consult your Test Reference printout for direction on how to interpret the results.  After you have recorded a result, click OK.

(q)     Using the left mouse button, click and drag your test tube into the white bucket in front of the 37 degree incubator to dispose of it. Proceed to step #7.

 

Tube-to-Plate Transfers: If you select a medium that is contained in a plate instead of a test tube, follow the instructions for steps (b) to (q), except substitute all references to "right test tube" with "right plate."  In step (f), you only need to "flame" the test tube on the left-- the plate does not need to be flamed.  In step (h), after you have dipped your tool into the left test tube and brought it back up, move your tool back and forth over the plate until you see a message at the bottom of the screen indicating that the medium has been successfully inoculated. And in steps (m) through (p), substitute all references to "test tube" with "plate."

 

5.       After you have finished performing a test, click on View-->Identification Matrix.  You will see only the microbes that matched the test results you just recorded.  You are now ready to select the next test.  [Hint: select a test that has a relatively equal number of pluses and minuses on the Identification Matrix. This will help you narrow down the list of possible microbes faster.] Click Close to exit the     Identification Matrix.

 

6.       Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 until there is only one microbe left on the Identification Matrix.  Most microbes can be identified after 4-8 tests.

 

7.       Once you have identified the mystery microbe, click File-->Identify Microbe. Select a microbe, then click OK. A box will appear asking if you are sure you want to end your work on the unknown.  Click Yes.

 

8.       Click View--> Lab Report for a summary of all the tests you performed and the results and notes you recorded.  Check the top of the lab report to confirm that you correctly identified the microbe.  Your instructor may ask you to print out this Lab    Report to submit as an assignment.

 

9.       To exit the program, click File-->Exit.  To start a new session, repeat step #2 and proceed.

 

 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

 

For technical support, please visit the support page at www.virtualunknown.com, or contact Intuitive Systems via email at: support@intuitiveinc.com

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

 

For information on instructional supplements and distance learning using the internet, visit www.virtualunknown.com