Abstract
Science is based on evidence that can be measured or observed through methodical techniques which are expressed in several ways, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Technical photograph becomes one of the most important key tools to disclose experimental results. In microbiological research, several pieces of evidence can be indicated with parameters that are deeply related to culture media; pH and color variation, halo formation, overlay of structures, culture shape, among others. The employment of technical photographs as a strategy of the experimental observation and reliable representation is indispensable. The protocol presented here suggests the production of photographic support in microbiological assays in Petri dishes taken by smartphone to obtain high-quality images, besides showing tools to edit images using PowerPoint. The support is composed of a paper tube with a transparent border, whose reduced light penetration avoiding light reflection over the Petri dishes or the culture media. The edition consists of photograph variation, and in clipping and pasting on uniform backgrounds to provide further detailing. The protocol allowed a standardized photograph collection in high quality, which is ideal for a comparative portrait of microbiological behaviors. The image editing enabled a framework and greater visibility of physical and biological structures in the exhibition of photographs inside the manuscript, such as the removal of noises, background alterations, deformities or irregularities. This protocol is an intelligent and cheap tool to help researcher on the knowledge-obtaining process, and it is applied to different experiments or adapted into the most variable research subjects.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Cordination for the Improvemnt of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES) for the scholarship granted to CR and assistance in publishing the manuscript.
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Cordination for the Improvemnt of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
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Cleverson Rodrigues: Experimental design, Performed research, Analyzed Data, Contributed new methods or models, Wrote the manuscript.
Grace Queiroz David: Performed research, Analyzed Data, Wrote the manuscript.
André Rodrigues dos Reis: Analyzed Data, Contributed new methods or models, Wrote and edited the manuscript.
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Rodrigues, C., David, G.Q. & dos Reis, A.R. Photograph registration of petri dishes in high quality and image editing of microbiological assays. Int Microbiol 25, 561–570 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-022-00242-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-022-00242-z