Research (Include source)

A. Paste 3 colored pictures of inoculated MAC. Write a detailed description about the colony
morphology and the color changes in the media. Give examples of bacteria demonstrating these
observations.

Salmonella enterica on MAC

The individual colonies are shaped as round or circular, with a shiny or smooth texture, they also have
a convex elevation and their margin can be considered as entire. The specific bacteria have not
exhibited a change of color in the medium but their colonies appear to be transparent or colorless.
Thus, they are identified as non-lactose fermenters or lactose-negative bacteria since there is no change
of pH or change of color in the medium, meaning they did not ferment the lactose. Examples of
bacterial species with these kinds of observations are the Salmonella, Proteus, Yersinia, Shigella and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Klebsiella pneumonia on MAC

The individual colonies of these bacteria appear to have a circular shape, they are large, shiny and have
a smooth and mucoid texture with pink-colored bacterial colonies. The colonies were able to have a
change of color because the lactose in the medium was fermented, thereby producing an acidic
environment causing the neutral red indicator to give the bacterial colonies a pink to red color. Thus,
they are considered as lactose-fermenting or lactose-positive bacteria. Examples of bacterial species
demonstrating these observations are Escherichia, Enterobacter such as Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter
cloacae and the Klebsiella.

Escherichia coli on MAC

The individual colonies of these bacteria have a circular shape, with a slightly raised elevation and an
entire margin. Their bacterial colonies appear to be mucus-like that are dark pink in color and are
surrounded by pink halos. It has almost the same appearance with the Klebsiella but these bacteria were
surrounded by pink halos which is possible because the bile salts within the medium are precipitated.
If these bacteria have the ability to precipitate the bile salts, it means that they are capable to ferment
the lactose rapidly. It also causes the colonies to have a change of color from red to dark pink making
the medium acidic. Thus, they are also known to be lactose-fermenting or lactose-positive bacteria.
Examples of these bacterial species also include the Escherichia, Klebsiella and some Enterobacter.

B. Paste 3 colored pictures of inoculated EMB. Write a detailed description about the colony
morphology and the color changes in the media. Give examples of bacteria demonstrating these
observations.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa on EMB

The individual colonies of these bacteria exhibit a circular shape, with a smooth texture, undulate
margin and non-pigmented or colorless bacterial colonies. Since the EMB agar contains lactose and
sucrose as the carbohydrate source, these bacteria were not capable of fermenting the carbohydrates.
Although they may increase the pH by deamination of proteins, it ensures that the dyes are not
absorbed. Thus, they showed no change in color of the medium along with the color of the colonies.
They are considered to be lactose and sucrose negative. Examples of bacteria demonstrating these
observations are Proteus mirabili, and Salmonella Typhimuriu.
 Klebsiella pneumonia on EMB
The individual colonies of these bacteria have a large, circular, mucus-like texture and a dark-purple
colored bacterial colonies. There was a change of color in the colonies which is caused by the
fermentation of lactose and sucrose within the medium resulting its production of acid that lowers the
pH. This encourages dye absorption by the colonies and turns the colonies dark purple as the acid acts
upon the dyes. Thus, they are considered as lactose and sucrose fermenters. Examples of bacterial
species which exhibit these observations are the Enterobacter and Klebsiella.

Escherichia coli on EMB

The individual colonies of these bacteria were observed to have a circular form, raised and entire
margin with a blue-black colored centers and strains of green metallic sheen. The factor that was
responsible in the formation of the green sheen was the rapid reduction in the pH of the EMB agar
since these bacteria were able to rapidly ferment the lactose and sucrose that leads to the production of
strong acids. Thus, they are considered as rapid lactose and/or glucose fermenters. Examples of
bacteria that may exhibit these observations are the other Escherichia species and some Enterobacter
bacteria but they may not necessarily produce a green metallic sheen.

References:
Image source
 https://microbenotes.com/macconkey-agar/
 http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/labmanua/lab12/Mac_senterica.html
 https://www.asmscience.org/content/education/imagegallery/image.2871
 http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/labmanua/lab3/embklebsiella.html


Research source
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557394/
 https://microbenotes.com/eosin-methylene-blue-emb-agar/
 https://catalog.hardydiagnostics.com/cp_prod/Content/hugo/EMBAgar.htm
