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Selective Media:
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Selects for certain microbes while suppressing others
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Selective media is usually used towards
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separating gram neg. & pos. bacteria.
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Differential Media:
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Allow the growth of more than one microorganism, all of which have distinguishable colonies based on the biochemical properties of the organisms
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Often times, differential media contain
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a pH indicator.
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Enriched Media:
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Contains growth factors that support bacterial growth
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Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA):
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Selective & Differential
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MSA selective component:
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7.5% NaCl, which selects for halotolerant organisms such as members of the Staphylococcus genus.
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MSA selects for
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halotolerant organisms.
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MSA differential component:
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-Mannitol (carbohydrate substrate)
-Phenol red (pH indicator)
-Phenol red (pH indicator)
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MSA is differential for
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mannitol fermentation.
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Organisms which are able to ferment the mannitol will produce
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acid fermentation products which lower the pH, causing the phenol red to turn yellow.
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Blood Agar (5% sheep's blood):
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Differential
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Blood agar differential component:
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The degree of hemolysis
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Hemolysis:
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Break down of RBC's
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Three types of hemolysis:
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-Alpha
-Beta
-Gamma
-Beta
-Gamma
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Alpha hemolysis:
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-Partial lysis
-Green/Brown/Yellow discoloration of the blood around the colonies
-Green/Brown/Yellow discoloration of the blood around the colonies
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Beta hemolysis:
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-Complete lysis
-Complete clearing of the blood around colonies
-Complete clearing of the blood around colonies
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Gamma hemolysis:
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-No lysis
-No change in the medium
-No change in the medium
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MacConkey Agar:
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Selective & Differential
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MacConkey selective component:
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-Crystal violet
-Bile salts
*Inhibit most gram-positive organisms
-Bile salts
*Inhibit most gram-positive organisms
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MacConkey Agar selects for
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gram-negative organisms.
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MacConkey differential component:
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-Lactose (substrate)
-Neutral red (pH indicator)
-Neutral red (pH indicator)
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MacConkey agar differentiates
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gram-negative bacteria based on their ability to ferment lactose (strong vs. weak).
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Lactose fermenters:
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Coliforms
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MacConkey lactose fermentation results in
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acid by-products in the media, resulting in colonial growth turning pinkish-red.
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If an organism is unable to ferment lactose,
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the colonies will be colorless, taking on the color of the medium.
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E. coli & MacConkey lactose fermentation:
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-Turns bacteria & media bright pink
-Strong fermenter
-Strong fermenter
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E. aerogenes & MacConkey lactose fermentation:
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-Only turns bacteria pink
-Weak fermenter
-Weak fermenter
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Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMB):
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Selective & Differential
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EMB selective components:
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-Eosin
-Methylene blue
*Inhibit gram-positive growth
-Methylene blue
*Inhibit gram-positive growth
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EMB selects for
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gram-negative organisms
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EMB differentiation component:
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-Lactose
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EMB differentiates between organisms
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which ferment lactose and produce acid end-products, and organisms that do not ferment lactose
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In EMB, small amounts of acid production result in
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pink colored growth (Enterobacter aerogenes).
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In EMB, large amounts of acid cause
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the acid to precipitate on the colony, resulting in a greenish, metallic sheen (Escherichia coli).
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Columbia C-NA Agar (CCNA):
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Selective & Differential
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CCNA selective components:
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Two antibiotics:
-Colistin
-Nalidixic
*Prohibit growth in gram-negative organisms
-Colistin
-Nalidixic
*Prohibit growth in gram-negative organisms
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CCNA is selective for
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gram-positive organisms.
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CCNA allows differentiation by
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hemolytic patterns with the addition of blood agar.
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Cultures:
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-Enterobacter aerogenes
-Escherichia coli
-Streptococcus zooepidemicus
-Streptococcus mutans
-Enterococcus faecalis
-Morganella morganii
-Staphylococcus xylosus
-Staphylococcus epidermidis
-Escherichia coli
-Streptococcus zooepidemicus
-Streptococcus mutans
-Enterococcus faecalis
-Morganella morganii
-Staphylococcus xylosus
-Staphylococcus epidermidis
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What properties of gram-negative organisms would likely make them more resistant to crystal violet and bile salts than gram-positive organisms?
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The external lipopolysaccharide membrane makes gram-negative organisms resistant to crystal violet and bile salts.
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An unknown bacterium produces colorless colonies when inoculated onto an EMB plate. Predict what you would see if you inoculated that same unknown onto the following media, and why:
MacConkey Agar:
MacConkey Agar:
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The unknown bacteria will grow and produce colorless colonies because both EMB and MacConkey agar are selective for gram-negative organisms and differential for lactose fermenters. Clear colonies indicate that the unknown bacterium is not a lactose fermenter.
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An unknown bacterium produces colorless colonies when inoculated onto an EMB plate. Predict what you would see if you inoculated that same unknown onto the following media, and why:
C-CNA Agar:
C-CNA Agar:
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The unknown bacteria will have no growth because it is gram-negative while C-CNA agar is selective for gram-positive organisms.