BIOL-3401 Spring 2021

Selective & Differential Media Assignment

Due April 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
100 points
Below are the names of several selective and differential media. Please write a brief
description of each. In your description, include whether the medium is selective,
differential or both; (ii) what organism(s) are cultivated; (iii) what is the active
ingredient(s); (iv) what does the medium look like; and (v) an example of an organism
that grows and/or is positive for the differential medium. I have provided an example for
you.

1. MacConkey’s II Agar - A selective medium for inhibiting the growth of enteric

bacteria and differentiates between lactose positive and lactose negative enteric
bacteria. The most active ingredient is Lactose Monohydrate. Lactose negative
will be a pale pink due to no fermentation but gives and alkaline reaction. Lactose
positive will produce a pink to red due to fermentation (acid production). The
acids absorbed by the bile salts (active ingredient in Agar) causes the red color.
Control will be a pink/coral due to growth inhibited by bile salts and crystal violet.
A typical organism that grows on this medium is E. Coli

2. Hekaton Enteric Agar – A selective medium for growing enteric bacteria and
differentiates between salmonella and Shigella from other enteric bacteria. The
medium is typically a green color (gram positive bacterium) and orange for other
enteric bacteria. The orange colonies indicate lactose fermentation. Green
colonies will arise due to salmonella on the gram-positive bacterium medium
indicating the production of Hydrogen sulfate. Shigella will have no H2S
production.

3. Triple Sugar Iron Agar – a selective medium for growing bacteria and determine
the ability of an organism to ferment sugars and their ability to produce hydrogen
sulfide. Active ingredients include glucose, lactose, sucrose, and Phenol red.
This test is to differentiate members of the Enterobacteriaceae family from gam
negative rods and their fermentation patterns if the slant turn from yellow to red,
then fermentation is present.

4. Spirit Blue Agar with Lipase Reagent

5. Simmon’s Citrate Agar

6. Mannitol Salt Agar – a selective medium for growing staphylococci but, it

differientiates between pathogenic and non-pathogenic staphylococci. The active
 ingredient in the MSA is Mannitol. For the exception of Staphylococci, any other
bacteria on the Mannitol salt agar is inhibited by 7.5% sodium chloride. Phenol
red is used as the indicator (the control). Nonpathogenic Staph will have a pink
color while Pathogenic Staph will become yellow on the agar. Eosin and
Methylene blue are the indicator dyes used in this medium. The form complexes
at low pH (color change).

7. Phenylethyl Alcohol Agar – A selective medium for inhibiting the growth of gram-
positive bacteria. The active ingredient is phenylethyl alcohol inhibits or reduces
growth of gram-negative organisms by interfering with DNA synthesis. A typical
organism that grows on the medium is the gram-positive bacteria S. Aureus.

8. Columbia Agar with 5% Sheep’s Blood

9. Brilliant Green Agar

10. Eosin Methylene Blue Agar – A selective medium for growing gram negative
bacilli/rods and differentiates between groups of enteric bacteria (Non-caliform,
Caliform, Fecal Caliform). It is to test the prescense of enteric bacteria in water,
foods and other samples.

11. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar

- A selective medium for growing fungi and inhibiting the growth of
bacteria. The active ingredient is acid, which lowers the pH to
approximately 5.6 which inhibits most bacteria. The medium is usually
light or medium tan. A typical organism that grows on the medium is
the yeast Candida albicans.