"The Mystery of Lyle and Louise"

Commonly known as the Vinegar Eel, these free-living nematodes require very little care, feeding in vinegar and feeding on fungi contained in it.

Planaria are a flatworm commonly used in science fair projects. They do not bite and move very slowly, making them easy for young students to observe.

Isolated from soil. Forms red pigment (best on high carbohydrate medium) and has oval eccentric spores. 

Colorless, most widely dispersed of the Serratia species. 

This spore-forming, thermophilic organism is commonly used for germicidal and sporicidal testing due to its ability to withstand higher-than-normal temperatures.

Noted for capsular swelling. Causes pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

Isolated from human intestine, this organism is known for its distinctive putrefactive odor.

Isolated from human nasopharynx. Presumably not related to N. sicca; some relation to N. gonorrhoeae. Often agglutinates in saline. 

Isolated from sewage, human intestines, and urinary tract infections. Spreading colonies are seen on agar growth medium. 

Both of these strains of Serratia marcescens are colorless mutants when plated alone, but when grown together, they produce a red pigment.

All microbial cultures undergo an extensive quality control program prior to releasing for sale, so they are guaranteed for purity as well as for species.

Beta hemolysis on blood. Causes wound infections and septicemia. 

This yellow, shiny organism is known to cause wound infections and more famously, toxic shock syndrome.

Grows on dead tissues. Novobiocin resistant (S. epidermidis and S. aureus novobiocin sensitive). 

No Lancefield group shown, alpha hemolysis. Bile solubility test positive, optochin sensitive. Causes pneumonia. 

Isolated from human saliva, sputum, and intestine. No Lancefield group shown, alpha hemolysis.