complex media
we are not aware of every chemical in the media
defined media
every chemical in media is known and quantified
-can be tailored to requirements of one species
different medias
-broth, plates, slants, deeps
broth
- difficult to check for purity
plate
- does not store well
slants
- difficult to check for purity
semi-solid deeps
- difficult to check for purity
agar
carbs from cell walls of red algae
-melts at 85C and solidifies at 40C (separately)
basic plate
- suitable for non-fastidious (non picky) organisms
selective media
encourage growth of some bacteria while preventing growth of others
differential media
will produce different visual cues as to the type of organism growing
enrichment media
a type of selective media used to allow proliferation of rare bacteria in a mixed population
MacConkey Agar
fermenters in macconkey plates
-turn purple
non-fermenters in macconkey plate
-stay creamy
acid diffusion in macconkey plate
-colours plate
MSA (Mannitol Salt Agar)
fermenters MSA plates
turn yellow
non-fermenters MSA plates
stay red
blood agar plates (BAP)
hemolysis may be enhanced in…
low oxygen environments
beta BAP
clearing
alpha BAP
discolouration in or under colony
gamma BAP
no hemolysis