AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA
A. SULPHOMONAS (SULPHUR BACTERIA)
2 TYPES OF AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA
PHOTOAUTOTROPHS
 These bacteria capture the energy of sunlight and
transform it into the chemical energy
 In this process, CO2 is reduced to carbohydrates.
 The hydrogen donor is water and the process
produce free oxygen.
 Photoautotroph has Chlorophyll pigment in the
cell and its main function is to capture sunlight
e.g., Cyanobacteria.
 Some photoautotrophic bacteria are anaerobes
and have bacteriochlorophyll
and bacteriovirdin pigments respectively
A. PURPLE SULPHUR BACTERIA
 These bacteria have the pigment
bacteriochlorophyll located on the
intracytoplasmic membrane i.e., thylakoids
 These bacteria obtain energy from sulfur
compounds e.g., Chromatiiun. Theopedia rosea,
Thiospirilium
B. GREEN SULPHUR BACTERIA
 These bacteria use hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as
hydrogen donor. The reaction takes place in the
presence of light and pigment termed
as bacteriovirdin or bacteriopheophytin
or chlorobium chlorophyll
e.g., Chlorobium limicola, Chlorobacterium etc
 These bacteria take hydrogen from inorganic
sources like sulphides and thiosulphates.
Therefore, these bacteria are also known
as photolithographs
CHEMOAUTOTROPHS
 These bacteria do not require light (lack the
light phase but have the dark phase of
photosynthesis) and pigment for their nutrition.
 These bacteria oxidize certain inorganic
substances with the help of atmospheric
oxygen.
 This reaction releases the energy (exothermic)
which is used to drive the synthetic processes of
the cell
 These bacteria obtain energy by oxidation
of elemental sulphur or H2S,
e.g., Thiobacillus, Beggiatoa
 Elemental Sulphur Oxidising Bacteria:
Denitrifying sulphur bacteria oxidize
elemental sulphur to sulphuric acid
e.g., Thiobacillus  denitrificans
 Sulphide Oxidizing Bacteria: These
bacteria oxidizes H2S and release
the sulphur e.g., Beggiatoa
B. HYDROMONAS (HYDROGEN BACTERIA)
 These convert hydrogen into water,
e.g., Bacillus pantotrophus,
Hydrogenomonas
C. FERROMONAS (IRON BACTERIA)
 These bacteria inhabit water and obtain
energy by oxidation of ferrous compounds
into ferric forms.
e.g., Thiobacillus  ferroxidans, Ferro
bacillus, Leptothrix
D. METHANOMONAS (METHANE BACTERIA)
 These bacteria get their energy by
oxidation of methane into water and
carbon dioxide
E. NITROSOMONAS (NITRIFYING BACTERIA)
 These bacteria get their energy by
oxidation of ammonia and nitrogen
compounds into nitrates
 Nitrosomonas oxidises NH3 to nitrites.
NH3 + ½O2 ® H2O + HNO2 + Energy
 Nitrobacter converts nitrites to nitrates.
NO2 + ½O2 ® NO2 + Energy
F. CARBON BACTERIA
 These bacteria oxidizes CO into CO2
e.g., Bacillus  oligocarbophillous,
Oligotropha carboxydovorans

HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA
 The heterotrophic bacteria obtain their-ready
made food from organic substances, living or
dead
 Most of pathogenic bacteria of human beings,
other plants and animals are heterotrophs
 Some heterotrops have simple nutritional
requirement while some of them
require large amount of vitamin and other
growth promoting substance. Such organisms
are called fastidious heterotrophs
2 TYPES OF HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA
PHOTOHETEROTROPHS
 These bacteria can utilize light energy but
cannot use CO2 as their sole source of carbon
 They obtain energy from organic compounds to
satisfy their carbon and electron requirements.
Bacteriochlorophyll pigment is found in these
bacteria
 eg., Purple non-sulphur bacteria
(Rhodospirillum, Rhodomicrobium,
Rhodopseudomonas palustris)
I. PARASITIC BACTERIA
 These bacteria obtain their nutrition from
the tissues of the hosts on which they grow
 They may be harmless or may cause serious
diseases
 Parasitic bacteria which cause various
diseases in plants and animals are known as
pathogens, e.g., Bacillus  typhosus,
B.  anthracis, B.tetani. B.diplheriae,
B.tuberculosis, B.  pneumoniae,
Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas  citri etc.
III. SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA
 Symbiotic bacteria live in close association
with other organisms as symbionts
 They are beneficial to the organisms
 The common examples are the nitrogen-
fixing bacteria, e.g., Bacillus radicicola,
B.  azotobacter, Rhizobium,
Clostridium,  Rhizobium
spp., B.  radicicolaand  B. azotobacter
 These bacteria fix free atmospheric nitrogen
into nitrogenous compounds which are
utilized by the plants. In return, the plant
provides nutrients and protection to the
bacteria

CHEMOHETEROTROPHS

 Chemoheterotrophs obtain both carbon and

energy from organic compounds such as
carbohydrates, lipids and proteins

3 CLASSIFICATIONS OF
HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA

II. SAPHROPHYTIC BACTERIA

 Saprophytic bacteria obtain their food from
the dead and organic decaying matter such as
leaves, fruits, vegetables, meat, animal feces,
leather, humus etc.
 These bacteria secrete enzymes to digest the
food and absorb it
 The enzymes secreted to break down the
complex compounds such as carbohydrate and
protein, into simpler soluble compounds,
which are easily absorbed
 Examples are Bacillus mycoides, B.  ramosus,
Acetobacter etc
 CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI

 The classification of fungi, like that of bacteria,

is designed mainly for practical application but it 3 DIVISIONS OF KINGDOM MYCETAE
also bears some relation to phylogenetic
considerations
 The nomenclature is binomial, with a generic
and a specific name (eg: Aspergillus niger)
GYMNOMYCOTA
 Species are collected in genera, genera in
 It includes phagotrophic organism devoid of cell
families (suffix –aceae), families in orders
walls.
(suffix-ales), and orders in classes (suffix-
 This division comprises two subdivisions.
mycetes)
 These are Acrasiogymnomycotina and
 The division of mycota, or fungi and moulds,
Plasmodiogynomycotina
includes the true slime moulds (Myxomycetes),
V
the lower fungi (Phycomycetes), and the higher
fungi (Eumycetes) SUBDIVISION 1. ACRASIOGYMNOMYCOTA
 Alexopolous and Mims
proposed fungal classification in 1979. They  It includes a single class Acrasiomycetes
place the fungi including the slime molds in the
kingdom mycetae of the super
CLASS 1. ACRASIOMYCETES
kingdom Eukaryota which, in addition, includes
four other kingdoms  Lacks flagellated cells except for one species.
The class comprises two subclasses.
 Acrasiomycetidae and Dictyosteliomycetidae

WHAT IS FUNGI?
SUBDIVISION 2. PLASMODIOGYMNOMYCOTA
 Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms. They can
occur as yeasts, molds, or as a combination of  It divides into two classes:
both forms
CLASS 1. PROTOSTELIOMYCETES
 Some fungi are capable of causing superficial,
cutaneous, subcutaneous, systemic or allergic
CLASS 2. MYCOMYCETES
diseases
 Yeasts are microscopic fungi consisting of
 It includes the true slime mold and comprises
solitary cells that reproduce by budding. Molds,
three sub class namely:
in contrast, occur in long filaments known as
i. Sub class 1. Ceratiomyxomycomycetidae
hyphae, which grow by apical extension
 Regardless of their shape or size, fungi are all o Order – Ceratiomyxales
heterotrophic and digest their food externally ii. Sub Class 2. Mycogasteomycetidae
by releasing hydrolytic enzymes into their
immediate surroundings (absorptive nutrition) o It comprise four orders:
 Other characteristics of fungi are the ability to  Liceales
synthesize lysine by the L-α-adipic acid
 Echinosteleales
biosynthetic pathway and possession of a
chitinous cell wall, plasma membranes  Trichlales
containing the sterol ergosterol, 80S rRNA, and  Physarales
microtubules composed of tubulin
iii. Sub Class 3. Stemonitomycetidae
o Order 1. Stemonitales
 SUBDIVISION 1. ZYGOMYCOTINA
MASTIGOMYCOTA
CLASS 1. ZYGOMYCETES
 Includes fungi with absorptive nutrition,  Includes 6 orders
unicellular or filamentous, mycelium coemocytic
CLASS 2. TRICHOMYCETES

SUBDIVISION 1.  Comprises 5 orders

HAPLOMASTIGOMYCOTINA
 It includes fungi with uni-or, bi-flagellate
SUB DIVISION 2. ASCOMYCOTINA
zoospores  Fungi usually with a septate mycelium
producing haploid ascospores in sac
like cells called asci.
CLASS 1. CHYTRIDIOMYCETES
 Fungi producing zoospores furnished with a
CLASS 1. ASCOMYCETES
 divided into five sub classes:
single whiplash flagellum inserted at the
1. Sub class 1. Hemiascomycetidae-
posterior end
comprising three orders.
CLASS 2. HYPHOCHYTRIDIOMYCETES 2. Sub class 2. Plectomycetidae- Five
orders
 Motile cells with a single tinsel flagellum 3. Sub class 3. Hymenoascomycetidae –
inserted at the anterior end Ten orders
4. Sub class 4 Laboulbeniomycetidae –
CLASS 3. PLASMODIOPHOROMYCETES Two orders
 Parasitic fungi producing biflagellate motile 5. Sub class 5 Lowloascomycetidae – five
orders
cells with both the flagella of whiplash
type inserted at the anterior end
SUB DIVISION 3. BASIDIOMYCOTINA
SUBDIVISION 2.  Septate mycelium, produces basidiospores,
DIPLOMASTIGOMYCOTIMA exogenously on various types of basidia.

 Sexual reproduction ooagamous, zoospores CLASS 1 BASIDIOMYCETES

biflagellate  it is split into 3 sub clases:
1. Sub class 1 Holobasidiomycetidae
CLASS 1. OOMYCETES
2. Sub class 2 Phragmobasidiomycetidae
o Order 1 Lagenidiales 3. Sub class 3 Teliomycetidae
4. Sub division 4. Deuteromycotina
o Order 2 Saprolegnailes
o Order 3 Leptomitales  It includes imperfect fungi in
which sexual stage is unknown. It
o Order 4 Peronosporales comprises a single form class.
 Form Class Deuteromycetes with three
form sub classes namely Blastomycetidae,
AMASTIGOOMYCOTA Coelomycetidae and Hyphomycetidae

 Includes fungi with absorptive nutrition,

unicellular or filamentous, ON THE BASIS OF SPORE
mycelium coemocytic PRODUCTION

 On the basis of the organisation of the

vegetative thallus, the morphology of
reproductive structures, the way of spores
production and particular life cycle involved the
kingdom mycota is classified into following
divisions
 3. ZYGOMYCETES
 The group is named zygomycetes because a
diploid resting spore called the zygospore is
formed during the life cycle.
 They are mostly saprophytic, some others are
parasites on plants and animals.
 The vegetative body is mycelium which is well
developed, profusely branched and coenocytic.
 The absence of motile sexual or asexual cells.
 The asexual reproduction takes place by
sporangiospores, aplanospores or by conidia.
 Sexual reproduction occurs by conjugation of
gametangia resulting in the formation of
zygospore.
 Examples; Rhizopus, Mucor etc
4. ASCOMYCETES
 The species of ascomycetes are called the sac
fungi because they produce sexual pores within
the sac-like vascus.
 Ascomycetes are mostly terrestrial occurring as
saprophytes or parasites.
 They have well-developed, branched, septate
mycelium except yeast. Yeast is a unicellular
fungus.
 Asexually they reproduce by non-motile spores,
conidia, oidia or chlamydospores.
 Sexual reproduction takes place by the fusion of
gametangia of opposite mating types.
 There is absence of motile cells.
 Examples, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,
Penicillium, Aspergillus etc.
5. BASIDIOMYCETES
The members of basidiomycetes are saprophytic or
parasitic. The group is named basidiomycetes as they
produce the basidiospores at the club-shaped basidium
during sexual reproduction.
Mycelium is highly developed, profusely branched and
septate.
The mycelia are differentiated into two mating types;
(+ve) and (-ve).
There are two kinds of mycelium; primary mycelium and
secondary mycelium.
1. PHYCOMYCETES
 It includes the simplest type of fungi. It is also
called as Algae-Fungi because most of the
characteristics of them are similar to algae
like Vaucheria.
 They have simple thallus which is unicellular or
coenocytic or aseptate filaments.
 They reproduce asexually by the formation of
zoospores or non-motile spores.
 Sexual reproduction is isogamous or
heterogamous which takes place by
gametangial contact.
 The diploid phase is represented by zygote.
 Phycomycetes has been classified into
subclasses: oomycetes and zygomycetes
2. OOMYCETES
 Oomycetes range from a primitive unicellular
thallus to a profusely branched filamentous
mycelium.
 Many members of them are terrestrial and
obligate parasites.
 Asexually they reproduce by biflagellate
zoospores.
 Sexual reproduction is oogamy that involves the
fusion of male and female gametes to form
oospore.
 Oospore undergoes meioses to produce haploid
biflagellate zoospores.
 Example; Phytophthora infestans(causes potato
blight)
 Asexual reproduction takes place by
fragmentation, budding, oidia, conidia or
chlamydospore.
 The dikaryotic cell is formed during sexual
reproduction.
 The absence of motile cell throughout the life
cycle.
 Basidiomycetes are the most advanced fungi as
their fructifications are often large and
prominent.
 Examples; Mushrooms, Puccinia, Ustilago etc.
 6. DEUTEROMYCETES (THE IMPERFECT FUNGI)
 Deuteromycetes compromises more than 17000
species of the diverse habits and habitats. It is
considered as an artificial class of fungi.
 The fungi are saprophytes as well as
parasites.Parasitic fungi cause serious diseases
to plants, animals including human beings.
 Some of them are unicellular while others are
multicellular.
 They reproduce asexually by conidia along with
some other types of spores.
 The sexual reproduction is entirely absent.
 The asexual stage or imperfect stage in
Deuteromycetes is well defined. But the sexual
or perfect stage is absent in life cycle, therefore,
they are called ‘Fungi Imperfecti’.
 Example; Alternaria, Fusarium,
Helminthosporium etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICALLY IMPORTANT
FUNGI
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SITE
1. SUPERFICIAL MYCOSES (TINEAS)
 mostly occur in the tropics and are restricted to
the outer surface of the hair and skin.
Examples are:
 Piedraia hortae, a filamentous member of the
Ascomycota which causes black piedra, a
disease of the hair shaft characterised by
brown/black nodules on the scalp hair (actually
the ascostromata of the fungus).
 Trichosporon cutaneum, a yeast belonging to
the Basidiomycota that is common in soil, water
samples, plants, mammals and birds, as well as
being a member of the normal flora of mouth,
skin and nails. It causes white piedra, a
superficial infection of the skin, and scalp and
pubic hair (although it is emerging as an
opportunistic pathogen of the
immunocompromised).
2. CUTANEOUS MYCOSES
 There are three genera of fungi that commonly
cause disease in the non-living tissues of skin, hair,
or nails/claws of people and animals, by growing in
a zone just above where the protein keratin is
deposited.
 The3 genera are Microsporum, Trichophyton
 and Epidermophyton and they are
often labelled ‘dermatophytes’ (with the disease
being called ‘dermatophytosis’)
 These fungi all have the ability to degrade keratin
and grow as non-invasive saprotrophs on skin and
its appendages, but their growth causes irritation
and inflammation of underlying epithelial cells, this
being an allergic reaction that may result
in death of these cells
3. SUBCUTANEOUS MYCOSES
 are generally caused by fungi that are normally
saprotrophic inhabitants of soil, particularly in
tropical and subtropical areas of Africa,
India and South America, which become infective
by being introduced through wounds in the skin.
Examples are:
 Madurella mycetomatis and M. grisea - cause
human mycetoma (common name: madura foot),
which is a localised infection causing locally
invasive tumour-like abscesses, accompanied by
chronic inflammation, resulting in swelling,
distortion and ulceration of the infected body part
 Sporothrix schenckii (thermally dimorphic,
Ascomycota) causes sporotrichosis. Sporothrix is
the anamorph and Ophiostoma stenoceras the
teleomorph. The fungus occurs in soil worldwide
although the disease is localized. . Also called ‘rose
handler’s disease’, sporotrichosis starts by entry of
the fungus through minor skin injury and can then
spread through the lymphatic system. The fungus
is dimorphic, forming septate vegetative hyphae,
conidiophores and conidia at 25°C, while at 37°C
oval to cigar-shaped budding yeast cells are
produced. As the yeast form is distributed by the
lymphatic system, disseminated sporotrichosis can
result in infections of the lungs and bones and
joints, endophthalmitis (inflammation of the
internal layers of the eye), meningitis and invasive
sinusitis.
4. SYSTEMIC MYCOSES
 are infections that affect the whole body. We
divide these into mycoses due to primary (usually
dimorphic) virulent pathogens, and those due to
opportunistic pathogens. 
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
ROUTE OF ACQUISITION

 When classified according to the route of

acquisition, a fungal infection may be designated
as exogenous or endogenous in origin.
x
 If classified as exogenous, an infecting organism
may be transmitted by airborne, cutaneous, or
percutaneous routes.
 An endogenously-acquired fungal infection may
be acquired from colonization or reactivation of
a fungus from latent infection.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
VIRULENCE

 Deep mycoses are caused by primary pathogenic

and opportunistic fungal pathogens.
 The primary pathogenic fungi are able to
establish infection in a normal host; whereas,
opportunistic pathogens require a compromised
host in order to establish infection
 The primary deep pathogens usually gain access
to the host via the respiratory tract.
 Opportunistic fungi causing deep mycosis invade
via the respiratory tract, alimentary tract, or
intravascular devices.
 The primary systemic fungal pathogens
include Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma
capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis,
and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
 The opportunistic fungal pathogens
include Cryptococcus neoformans,
Candida, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium marneffei,
the Zygomycetes, Trichosporon beigelii,
and Fusarium  spp.
 CLASSIFICATION OF BACTERIA
MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS
 Both wet-mounted and properly stained
bacterial cell suspensions can yield a great deal
of information.
 These simple tests can indicate the Gram
reaction of the organism; whether it is acid-fast;
its motility; the arrangement of its flagella; the
presence of spores, capsules, and inclusion
bodies; and, of course, its shape.
 This information often can allow identification
of an organism to the genus level, or can
minimize the possibility that it belongs to one
or another group
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS
 A primary distinguishing characteristic is
whether an organism grows aerobically,
anaerobically, facultatively (i.e., in either the
presence or absence of oxygen), or
microaerobically (i.e., in the presence of a less
than atmospheric partial pressure of oxygen).
 Other important growth assessments include
the incubation temperature, pH, nutrients
required, and resistance to antibiotics.
 For example, one diarrheal disease
agent, Campylobacter jejuni, grows well at 42° C
in the presence of several antibiotics;
another, Y. enterocolitica, grows better than
most other bacteria at 4°
C. Legionella, Haemophilus, and some other
pathogens require specific growth factors,
whereas E. coli and most other
Enterobacteriaceae can grow on minimal media
ANTIGENS AND PHAGE SUSCEPTIBILITY
 Cell wall (O), flagellar (H), and capsular (K)
antigens are used to aid in classifying certain
organisms at the species level, to serotype
strains of medically important species for
epidemiologic purposes, or to identify
serotypes of public health importance.
 Serotyping is also sometimes used to
distinguish strains of exceptional virulence or
public health importance, for example with V.
cholerae (O1 is the pandemic strain) and E.
coli (enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive,
enterohemorrhagic, and enteropathogenic
serotypes).
 Phage typing (determining the susceptibility
pattern of an isolate to a set of specific
bacteriophages) has been used primarily as an
aid in epidemiologic surveillance of diseases
caused by Staphylococcus aureus,
mycobacteria, P. aeruginosa, V. cholerae, and S.
Typhi. Susceptibility to bacteriocins has also
been used as an epidemiologic strain marker. In
most cases recently, phage and bacteriocin
typing have been supplanted by molecular
methods.
BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Most bacteria are identified and classified
largely on the basis of their reactions in a series
of biochemical tests.
 Some tests are used routinely for many groups
of bacteria (oxidase, nitrate reduction, amino
acid degrading enzymes, fermentation or
utilization of carbohydrates); others are
restricted to a single family, genus, or species
(coagulase test for staphylococci, pyrrolidonyl
arylamidase test for Gram-positive cocci).

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF GRAM STAIN
& BACTERIAL CELL WALL
 Gram Stain allows a large proportion of
clinically important bacteria to be classified as
either Gram positive or negative based on their
morphology and differential staining properties.
 Slides are sequentially stained with crystal
violet, iodine, then destained with alcohol and
counter-stained with safranin. Gram positive
bacteria stain blue-purple and Gram negative
bacteria stain red.
 The difference between the two groups is
believed to be due to a much larger
peptidoglycan (cell wall) in Gram positives. As a
result the iodine and crystal violet precipitate in
the thickened cell wall and are not eluted by
alcohol in contrast with the Gram negatives
where the crystal violet is readily eluted from
the bacteria. As a result bacteria can be
distinguished based on their morphology and
staining properties.
 Some bacteria such as mycobacteria are not
reliably stained due to the large lipid content of
the peptidoglycan. Alternative staining
techniques (Kinyoun or acid fast stain) are
therefore used that take advantage of the
resistance to destaining after lengthier initial
staining
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF SHAPE
A. COCCI
 Monococcus– they are also called micrococcus
and represented by single, discrete round     
Example: Micrococcus flavus.
 Diplococcus– the cell of the Diplococcus divides
ones in a particular plane and after division, the
cells remain attached to each other.
Example: Diplococcus pneumonia.
 Streptococcus: – here the cells divide
repeatedly in one plane to form chain of cells.
Example: – Streptococcus pyogenes.
 Tetracoccus: – this consists of four round cells,
which defied in two planes at a right angles to
one another.
Example: – Gaffkya tetragena.
 Staphylococcus: – here the cells divided into
three planes forming a structured like bunches
of grapes giving and irregular configuration.
Example: – Staphylococcus aureus.
 Sarcina: -in this case the cells divide in three
planes but they form a cube like configuration
consisting of eight or sixteen cells but they have
a regular shape.
Example: –Sarcina lutea.
B) Bacilli
 These are rod shaped or cylindrical bacteria
which either remain singly or in pairs. Example:
–Bacillus cereus.
C) Vibro 
 The vibro are the curved, comma shaped
bacteria and represented by a single genus.
Example: – Vibro cholerae.
D) Spirilla
 These type of bacteria are spiral or spring like
with multiple curvature and terminal flagella.
Example: –Spirillum volutans.

OTHERS
Actinomycetes  
 are branching filamentous bacteria, so called
because of a fancied resemblance to the
radiating rays of the sun when seen in tissue
lesions (from actis meaning ray and mykes
meaning fungus).
Mycoplasmas 
 are bacteria that are cell wall deficient and hence
do not possess a stable morphology. They occur
as round or oval bodies and as interlacing
5. HYPETHERMOPHILES
filaments.
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF
TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT
1. PSYCHROPILES
 Bacteria that can grow at 0°C or below but the
optimum temperature of growth is 15 °C or
below and maximum temperature is 20°C are
called psychrophiles
 Psychrophiles have polyunsaturated fatty acids
in their cell membrane which gives fluid nature
to the cell membrane even at lower
temperature.
 Examples: Vibrio psychroerythrus, vibrio
marinus, Polaromonas vaculata, Psychroflexus.
2. PSYCHROTROPS (FACULTATIVE
PSYCHROPHILES)
 Those bacteria that can grow even at 0°C but
optimum temperature for growth is (20-30)°C
3. MESOPHILES
 Those bacteria that can grow best between (25-
40)o C but optimum temperature for growth is
37C
 Most of the human pathogens are mesophilic in
nature.
 Examples: E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella,
Staphylococci.
4. THERMOPHILES
 Those bacteria that can best grow above 45C.
Thermophiles capable of growing in mesophilic
range are called facultative thermophiles.
 True thermophiles are called as
Stenothermophiles, they are obligate
thermophiles,
 Thermophils contains saturated fattyacids in
their cell membrane so their cell membrane does
not become too fluid even at higher
temperature.
 Examples: Streptococcus thermophiles, Bacillus
stearothermophilus, Thermus aquaticus.
 Those bacteria that have optimum temperature
of growth above 80C.
 Mostly Archeobacteria are hyperthermophiles.
 Monolayer cell membrane of Archeobacteria is
more resistant to heat and they adopt to grow in
higher remperature.
 Examples: Thermodesulfobacterium, Aquifex,
Pyrolobus fumari, Thermotoga.
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF OXYGEN
REQUIREMENT
1. OBLIGATE AEROBES
 Require oxygen to live
 Example: Pseudomonas, common nosocomial
pathogen
2. FACULTATIVE ANAEROBES
 Can use oxygen, but can grow in its absence.
 They have complex set of enzymes.
 Examples: E. coli, Staphylococcus, yeasts, and
many intestinal bacteria.
3. OBLIGATE ANAEROBES
 Cannot use oxygen and are harmed by the
presence of toxic forms of oxygen.
 Examples: Clostridium bacteria that cause
tetanus and botulism.
4. AEROTOLERANT AEROBES
 Cannot use oxygen, but tolerate its presence.
 Can break down toxic forms of oxygen.
 Example: Lactobacillus carries out fermentation
regardless of oxygen presence
5. MICROAEROPHILES
 Require oxygen, but at low concentrations.
 Sensitive to toxic forms of oxygen.
 Example: Campylobacter.
 CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF 3. Lophotrichous
OSMOTIC PRESSURE REQUIREMENT
 Bunch of flagella is attached to one end of the
bacteria cell
1. HALOPHILES
 Example: Pseudomonas.
 Require moderate to large salt concentrations.
 Cell membrane of halophilic bacteria is made up 4. Amphitrichous
of glycoprotein with high content of negatively
charged glutamic acid and aspartic acids. So high  Bunch of flagella arising from both end of the
concentration of Na+ ion concentration is bacteria cell
required to shield the –ve charge.  Example: Rhodospirillum rubrum.
 Ocean water contains 3.5% salt. Most such 5. Peritrichous 
bacteria are present in the oceans.
 Archeobacteria, Halobacterium, Halococcus.  The flagella are evenly distributed surrounding
the entire bacterial cell
2. EXTREME OR OBLIGATE HALOPHILES  Example: Bacillus.
 Require a very high salt concentrations (20 to
30%).
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF SPORE
 Bacteria in Dead Sea, brine vats
FORMATION

3. FACULTATIVE HALOPHILES 1. Spore forming bacteria:

 Do not require high salt concentrations for  Those bacteria that produce spore during
growth, but tolerate upto 2% salt or more unfavorable condition.
 These are further divided into two groups:
i. Endospore forming bacteria: Spore is
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF NUMBER produced within the bacterial cell.
OF FLAGELLA  Examples. Bacillus, Clostridium,
Sporosarcina etc
1. ATRICHOS ii. Exospore forming bacteria: Spore is produced
 These bacteria has no flagella. outside the cell
Example: Corynebacterium diptherae  Example.  Methylosinus

2. MONOTRICHOUS 2. Non sporing bacteria
 One flagellum is attached to one end of the  Those bacteria which do not produce
spores
bacteria cell. Example: – Vibro cholerae
 Eg. E. coli, Salmonella
 MICROBIAL CULTURE MEDIA
WHAT IS CULTURE MEDIA?
 The media is a source of nutrients to support
the growth of the micro-organisms in-vitro. The
media helps in the growth and counting of
microbial cells, selection of microorganisms,
and survival of microorganisms. The culture
medium can be liquid or gel
COMMON INGREDIENTS OF CULTURE MEDIA:
 Peptone- source of carbon and nitrogen.
 Beef extract- source of amino acid, vitamins,
minerals.
 Yeast extract- source of vitamin, carbon,
nitrogen.
 Distilled water
 Agar- solidifying agent.
WHAT IS DEFINED MEDIUM?
 A defined medium has a known quantity of all
ingredients, like carbon source (Glucose or
Glycerol) and nitrogen source (Ammonium salt
or Nitrate as inorganic nitrogen). The medium
needs in metabolic, nutritional, and
physiological growth experiments
 Example: Czapek Dox medium
WHAT IS UNDEFINED MEDIUM?
 This medium has different complex ingredients
in unknown quantities, for example- yeast
extract, beef, various salts, and enzymatic
protein
 Example: Potato dextrose agar, MacConkey
agar
WHAT IS COMPLEX MEDIUM?
 This media is other than basal media; it has
added ingredients to bring the characteristics
of microorganisms with unique nutrients
TYPES OF CULTURE MEDIA BASED ON
CONSISTENCY/PHYSICAL STATE
1. SOLID MEDIUM
 It is for the isolation of bacteria as a pure
culture on a solid medium. 
 Agar is used to hardening the media at 1.5- 2.0%
concentration.
 Solid media allows the growth of bacteria as
colonies by streaking on the medium. It
solidified at 37 degrees Celsius.
 Agar is an un-branched polysaccharide
extracted from red algae species like Gelidium.
Colonies identification is done on this medium
 Growth of bacteria on solid medium appear as
smooth, rough, mucoid, round, irregular,
filamentous, punctiform
EXAMPLES:
 Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Blood
agar, Chocolate agar
2. SEMI-SOLID MEDIA
 This media shows the motility of bacteria and
the cultivation of microaerophilic bacteria. 
 This media has agar at a concentration of 0.5%
or less. It has a jelly consistency
 The growth of bacteria in semi-solid appears as
a thick line in the medium
EXAMPLES:
 Stuart’s and Amies media, Hugh and Leifson’s
oxidation fermentation medium, and Mannitol
motility media
3. LIQUID MEDIA
 This media shows the growth of a large number
of bacteria.
 It is called Broth that allows bacteria to grow
uniformly with turbidity. The growth occurs at
37ºC in an incubator for 24hrs.
EXAMPLES:
 Nutrient broth, Tryptic soy broth, MR-VP broth,
phenol red carbohydrate broth

TYPES OF CULTURE MEDIA BASED ON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION/APPLICATION
5. BASAL MEDIA
 This media is simple as it enhances the
growth of many microorganisms.
 It’s a routinely used medium in the lab,
having Carbon and Nitrogen.
 This media allows the growth; of non-
fastidious bacteria without any enrichment
source; used for sub-culturing.
 It’s a non-selective medium.
 Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae gro
w in this media.
EXAMPLES:
 Nutrient Agar, Peptone water
6. ENRICHED MEDIA
 This media requires the addition of other
substances like blood, egg, or serum.
 An enriched media allows the growth of
devised microorganisms but inhibits other
and fastidious microbes grow as they
require nutrients like vitamins and growth-
promoting substances.
EXAMPLES:
 Blood agar, Chocolate agar, LSS, Monsor’s
taurocholate, Lowenstein Jensen media.
Blood agar identifies hemolytic bacteria,
chocolate media for N. gonorrhea.
7. SELECTIVE MEDIA
 This media shows the growth of selective;
microbes or desired microorganisms and
inhibits the growth of unwanted microbes
 The inhibition occurs by adding bile salts,
antibiotics, dyes, PH adjustments.
 Media is agar-based; any media is possible
to transform into selective by adding
inhibitory agar.
1. ENRICHMENT MEDIA
 It is a liquid medium, which also permits the
growth of desired bacteria at a low density.
 The media provides an environment and
conditions as selective media and inhibits
unwanted bacteria from growing.
 It is for the isolation of the soil and fecal
microorganisms
EXAMPLES:
 Selenite F-broth does the isolation
of Salmonella Typhi from a fecal sample.
Selenium allows the growth of desired
organisms and, detection levels increase for
intestinal flora
2. INDICATOR OR DIFFERENTIAL MEDIA
 This media shows visible changes due to the
presence of an indicator.
 It differentiates bacteria based on colony color
growing on the same plate; biochemical
characteristics show organism’s growth with
chemical indicators like neutral red, phenol red,
methylene blue
EXAMPLES:
 Mannitol salt agar (mannitol fermentation
shows yellow color colonies);
 blood agar is used to differentiate between
hemolytic and non-hemolytic.
 MacConkey agar produces pink colonies due to
lactose utilization and, non-lactose shows pale
color colonies
3. TRANSPORT MEDIA
 The media transport specimens after collection
to control the overgrowth of organisms.
 For the cultivation, this media act as temporary
storage.
 It also maintains the viability of pathogens in
the specimen and prevents them from drying
EXAMPLES:
 Stuart’s transport medium (lacks carbon,
nitrogen, growth factors)
  Cary Blair’s transport media and VR are used to
transport feces samples from cholera patients.
Pikes medium helps to transport streptococci
from throat patients
4. STORAGE MEDIA
 It maintains the longevity of bacterial culture
 Examples are- cooked meat broth, NA egg
saline
 EXAMPLES OF SELECTIVE MEDIA:
TYPES OF CULTURE MEDIA BASED ON
OXYGEN REQUIREMENT
1. AEROBIC MEDIA
 In this media, it is easy to cultivate microbes, on
solid media, the growth occurs by keeping the
culture in the incubator.
 It shows the growth; of non-fastidious
microorganisms
EXAMPLES:
 Peptone water- 1%peptone + 0.5% Nacl +100ml
water
 Nutrient agar- nutrient broth +2% agar
2. ANAEROBIC MEDIA
 The media cultivates anaerobic bacteria at low
oxygen, reducing oxidation-reduction potential.
 Anaerobic media contains extra nutrients like
vitamin K, hemin, and oxygen that get reduced
by a physical or chemical process.
 The addition of glucose (1%),
thioglycollate(0.1%), ascorbic acid (0.1%),
cysteine (0.05%), or iron fillings added to cause
the medium to reduce.
 The medium is boiled in a water bath to force
out dissolved oxygen and packed with sterile
paraffin
EXAMPLES:
 RCM (Robertson cooked meat) isolation
for Clostridium sp.
 Thioglycolate broth– It has sodium glycolate
that maintains low oxygen.
TYPES OF SPECIAL PURPOSE CULTURE
MEDIA
1. ASSAY MEDIA
 The media assay vitamins, amino acids, and
antibiotics. 
 Example- Antibiotic sensitivity test the media
used is Muller-Hinton agar has 1.7% agar for
better diffusion of antibiotics.
 It also contains starch, which absorbs toxins
released by bacteria.
 In this media plate Zone of inhibition is seen
around antibiotics
2. MINIMAL MEDIA
 Minimal media is a defined medium with
different compositions depending on
microorganisms cultured.
 It contains a carbon source like sugar/succinate
and inorganic salts like magnesium, nitrogen,
sulfur, phosphorus. 
 Carbon is a source of energy; magnesium and
ammonium salts are the sources of ions for
metabolism stimulation.
 Phosphate is a buffering agent.
 The growth comparison of microbe culture and
mutant forms- Minimal media and
supplementary-minimal media- allow the
differentiation of wild-type and mutant cells.
 Use- The selection of recombinants, for the
growth of wild-type microorganisms
 3. FERMENTATION MEDIA
 The media is for optimum microorganisms.
Fermentation media produce high yields of
the product; media provide energy and
nutrients for growth, and medium gives the
substrate for the synthesis of products in
the fermentation.
2 COMPONENTS:
Major components – Carbon and nitrogen for
energy.
Minor components- This contains inorganic salts,
growth factors, vitamins, buffer, anti-foaming
agents, dissolved oxygen, gases, growth inhibitors,
enzymes.
 The nutrients in fermentation media
depend on the organism and type of
fermentation process.
2 USES:
a. Growth media
 It has low nutrients and creates raw
material for further fermentation.
b. Fermentation media
 It has high nutrients and creates end
products.
 Example- The yeast requires 1% carbon, but
the fermentation of alcohol, demands 12-
13% carbon in the medium.
4. RESUSCITATION MEDIA
 The resuscitation method is for the stressed
bacterial recovery;
 this is a specialized medium that allows the
growth of microbes that have lost the
ability to produce because of the
environmental harness.
 The culture provides nutrients and recovers
their metabolism.
 For example- Bacteria require histamine for
growth, and the medium lacks this
component. Then it inhibits growth. The
same bacterium is put in a medium having
histamine, then it starts to grow again, and
this medium acts as resuscitation media. 
 For example- Tryptic Soy Agar
LIST OF CULTURE MEDIA AND THEIR USES
1. A7 and A8 agars
 A7 and A8 agars are selective and
differential media used for the
cultivation, identification, and
differentiation of Ureaplasma spp.
and Mycoplasma hominis.
2. Alkaline peptone water
 Alkaline peptone water is an enrichment
broth used for the isolation of small
numbers
of Vibrio and Aeromonas organisms
from stool specimens.
3. American Trudeau Society medium
 American Trudeau Society medium is a
nonselective enriched medium used for
the isolation and cultivation of
mycobacteria.
4. Amies transport medium with and without
charcoal
 Amies transport medium is a
modification of Stuart’s medium. Amies
medium with charcoal is preferred for
the isolation of Neisseria spp.
5. Anaerobic blood agar (CDC)
 The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) formulation of
anaerobic blood agar is a general-
purpose medium used for the isolation
and cultivation of anaerobic bacteria.
6. 10B arginine broth; Shepard’s broth
 10B arginine broth is a medium used for
the transport and growth of M.
hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum.
7. Ashdown agar
 Ashdown agar is a selective and
differential medium for the isolation
of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.
8. Bacillus cereus medium
 B. cereus medium is an enriched
medium used for the isolation of B.
cereus
16. BACTEC 12B radiometric medium
 BACTEC 12B medium (BD Biosciences) is
a liquid nonselective medium used for
the isolation and identification
of Mycobacterium species in
conjunction with the BACTEC system
17. Bacteroides bile esculin agar
 Bacteroides bile esculin agar is an
enriched, selective, and differential
medium used for the isolation and
presumptive identification of members
of the Bacteroides fragilis group
and Bilophila wadsworthia.
18. Baird-Parker agar base
 Baird-Parker agar base is an enriched,
selective, and differential agar used for
the detection of coagulase-positive
staphylococci (S. aureus) from food and
other non-clinical sources.
19. Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium (Sigma-
Aldrich Co., St. Louis, Mo.)
 Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium is a
complicated medium for the isolation
of Borrelia burgdorferi.
20. Bile esculin agar
 Bile esculin agar is a selective and
differential medium used for the
isolation and differentiation
of Enterococcus and Streptococcus
bovis (group D Streptococcus) from
non-group D Streptococcus.
21. Bile esculin agar plus vancomycin at 6
μg/ml
 Bile esculin agar plus vancomycin is a
selective and differential medium used
to identify vancomycin-resistant
streptococci and enterococci.
22. Bile esculin azide agar and broth
(Enterococcosel)
 Bile esculin azide agar or broth is a
selective and differential medium for S.
bovis (group D streptococcus) and
enterococci.
9. Bismuth sulfite agar
 Bismuth sulfite agar is a highly selective
and differential medium used for the
isolation of Salmonella enterica serovar
Typhi and other enteric bacilli.
10. Blood agar
 It is the same as Columbia agar with 5%
sheep blood.
11. Blood culture media
 All blood culture medium formulations
are based on a nutrient peptone broth
with variations due to hydrolysis or
digestion of the source protein.
12. Bordet-Gengou medium
 Bordet-Gengou medium is an enriched
medium used for the isolation and
cultivation of Bordetella pertussis from
clinical specimens.
13. Brain heart infusion agar
 Brain heart infusion agar is a general-
purpose medium used for the isolation
of a wide variety of pathogens,
including yeasts, molds, and bacteria.
14. Brain heart infusion agar with 7% horse
blood and brain heart infusion agar with 1%
serum
 Brain heart infusion agar with horse
blood or serum enriches the medium for
isolation of Helicobacter spp.
15. Brain heart infusion broth
 Brain heart infusion broth is a general-
purpose clear liquid medium that is used
to cultivate a wide variety of organisms.
Formulations with 6.5% NaCl are used
for the isolation of salt-tolerant
streptococci, formulations with 0.1%
agar that reduce O2 tension favor
anaerobes, and formulations with Fildes
enrichment are used for the isolation of
fastidious organisms such
as Haemophilus and Neisseria.
23. Brain heart infusion-vancomycin agar
 Brain heart infusion-vancomycin agar is a
selective medium used for the isolation of
vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The base
is brain heart infusion agar. Vancomycin
(6g/ml) is added to select for vancomycin-
resistant enterococci.
24. Brilliant green agar
 Brilliant green agar is a highly selective and
differential medium used for the isolation
of Salmonella species except for serovar
Typhi.
25. Brucella agar
 Brucella agar is a medium designed
originally for the purpose of
isolating Brucella spp. from dairy products.
26. Brucella agar with cefoxitin and cycloserine
 Brucella agar with cefoxitin and cycloserine
is a selective and differential sheep blood
medium used for the isolation
of Clostridium difficile. Brucella agar is the
nutritive base.
27. Brucella agar with hemin and vitamin K
 Brucella agar with hemin and vitamin K is a
general-purpose nonselective and enriched
medium used for the isolation and
cultivation of anaerobic bacteria.
28. Brucella agar with 5% horse blood
 Horse blood enriches brucella agar for
fastidious organisms, such as H. pylori, by
providing both hemin (factor X) and NAD
(factor V) factors.
29. Brucella broth
 Brucella Broth is a liquid medium that is
used to cultivate Campylobacter species
and to identify the organisms to the species
level.
30. Buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE)
 BCYE is a specialized enriched agar medium
used for the isolation and cultivation
of Legionella species from environmental
and clinical specimens.
31. Buffered glycerol saline
 Buffered glycerol saline is a multipurpose
transport medium. The transport medium
has been used for the isolation of bacteria,
such as Aeromonas spp., as well as viruses.
In addition, glycerol-containing media may
also be used for long-term storage of
isolates and for transport and storage of
biopsy specimens.
32. Burkholderia cepacia selective agar
 B. cepacia selective agar is an enriched and
selective medium used for the isolation
of B. cepacia.
33. Campylobacter blood agar
 Campylobacter blood agar is an enriched
selective blood agar medium used for the
isolation of Campylobacter species.
34. Campylobacter charcoal differential (CCD)
agar
 CCD agar is a blood-free selective medium
used for the isolation
of Campylobacter from stool specimens.
35. Campylobacter thioglycolate medium
 Campylobacter thioglycolate medium is a
selective holding medium used for the
isolation of Campylobacter species.
36. Cary-Blair transport medium
 Cary-Blair transport medium was specifically
designed to enhance the survival of enteric
bacterial pathogens.
37. Cefoperazone-vancomycin-amphotericin B
(CVA) medium
 CVA medium is a selective and enriched
blood agar medium used for the isolation
of Campylobacter species.
38. Cefsulodin-Irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) medium
(Yersinia selective agar)
 CIN, or Yersinia selective agar, is a selective
and differential medium used for the
isolation and differentiation of Yersinia
enterocolitica from clinical specimens and
food sources.
39. Cetrimide agar 45. Columbia broth

 Cetrimide agar is a selective and differential  Columbia broth is a general-purpose clear

medium used for the identification liquid medium used especially for blood
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. culture medium. The broth supports the
growth of a wide range of microorganisms.
40. Charcoal selective medium
46. Columbia-colistin-nalidixic acid agar with 5%
 Charcoal selective medium is an enriched
sheep blood
selective medium used for the isolation
of Campylobacter species.  Columbia-colistin-nalidixic acid agar with 5%
sheep blood is a selective and differential
41. Chocolate agar
medium commonly used in the isolation of
 Chocolate agar is a general-purpose gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic
medium used for the isolation and organisms from mixed clinical specimens.
detection of a wide variety of
47. Cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar
microorganisms, including fastidious
species such as Neisseria and Haemophilus.  Cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar is a
selective and differential agar medium used
42. Chopped meat glucose broth
for the isolation of C. difficile.
 Chopped meat glucose broth is an enriched
48. Cysteine-albumin broth with 20% glycerol
medium that supports the growth of most
anaerobes. It is most commonly used to  Cysteine-albumin broth with 20% glycerol is
isolate Clostridium botulinum from mixed used for the transport and storage of
bacterial growth. gastric biopsy specimens for the recovery
of H. pylori.
43. CHROMagar (Rambach agar)
49. Cystine glucose blood agar
 CHROMagar is a microorganism-specific,
chromogenic culture medium used for  Cystine glucose blood agar is an enriched
isolation and identification for a variety of medium used for the isolation
organisms. CHROMagar was developed by of Francisella spp.
Alain Rambach, who first formulated agars
50. Cystine-tellurite blood agar
that were monochromogenic for the
detection of E. coli and Salmonella spp.  Cystine-tellurite blood agar is a modification
Second-generation agars are multicolor. of Tinsdale agar and is both a selective and
Both types are differential and selective. differential medium used for the detection
The nutritive agar base includes peptone of C. diphtheriae.
and glucose. Different additives, proprietary
51. Cystine tryptic agar
chromogenic mixtures, and antibiotics have
resulted in a series of media-specific for  Cystine tryptic agar is a pancreatic digest of
such organisms as Listeria, S. aureus, the casein-enriched medium that is most
methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. commonly used for the cultivation and
coli O157, yeasts, and other organisms. maintenance of fastidious organisms. The
addition of 1% carbohydrates and phenol
44. Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood
red for the determination of fermentation
 Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood is a reactions is especially helpful for
general-purpose medium used for the differentiating Neisseria spp.
isolation of a variety of microorganisms,
52. Diagnostic sensitivity agar
including fastidious organisms. The addition
of 20 gm of ampicillin per ml is helpful in  Diagnostic sensitivity agar is a medium used
isolation of Aeromonas. in the cultivation of organisms for
susceptibility testing.
53. DNA-toluidine blue agar
 DNA-toluidine blue agar is a differential
medium used most commonly for the
detection and differentiation
of Staphylococcus spp.
54. Dubos Tween-albumin broth
 Dubos Tween-albumin broth is a
nonselective medium used for the isolation
and cultivation of mycobacteria.
55. Egg yolk agar (modified McClung-Toabe agar)
 Egg yolk agar medium (modified McClung-
Toabe agar) is a selective and differential
medium used for the isolation and
differentiation of Clostridium spp.
56. Ellinghausen-McCullough/Johnson-Harris
medium
 Ellinghausen-McCullough/Johnson-Harris
medium is an enriched semisolid medium
used for the isolation and cultivation
of Leptospira.
57. Enterococcosel agar
 It is similar to Bile esculin azide agar and
broth.
58. Eosin-methylene blue (EMB) agar
 EMB agar is a selective and differential
medium used for the isolation and
differentiation of enteric pathogens from
contaminated clinical specimens.
59. ESP Culture System II
 ESP Myco medium is used with ESP Culture
System II (TREK Diagnostic Systems) for the
detection of mycobacterial growth.
60. Egg-tellurite-glycine-pyruvate-agar (ETGPA)
 It is similar to the Baird-Parker agar base.
61. Fastidious anaerobic agar
(Fusobacterium selective agar)
 Fastidious anaerobic agar is an enriched
sheep blood medium used for the isolation
and cultivation of anaerobic organisms.
62. Fletcher’s medium
 Fletcher’s medium is an enriched semisolid
medium used for the isolation and growth
of Leptospira.
63. FlexTrans viral and chlamydia transport
medium
 FlexTrans viral and chlamydia transport
medium (Trinity Biotech) is intended to be
used as a transport medium for viruses
and/or chlamydiae.
64. GC agar base
 GC agar base is a chocolate agar base used
with various additives for the purpose of
isolating Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other
fastidious organisms, such
as Haemophilus spp.,
including Haemophilus ducreyi, and for
susceptibility testing of N. gonorrhoeae.
65. GN broth
 GN broth is an enriched selective broth
medium used for the isolation of gram-
negative rods.
Specifically, Salmonella and Shigella are
isolated more effectively in GN broth than
on solid medium alone.
66. Haemophilus test medium (HTM) and broth
 HTM is an enriched medium used for
susceptibility testing
of Haemophilus species.
67. Heart infusion agar and broth
 Heart infusion agar and broth are general-
purpose media used for the isolation of a
variety of microorganisms. Incorporation
with 5% rabbit blood allows detection of the
more fastidious Actinomyces.
68. Hektoen enteric agar
 Hektoen enteric agar is a selective and
differential medium used for the isolation
and differentiation of enteric pathogens
from contaminated clinical specimens.
Fermenters such as E. coli produce colonies
that are yellow-pink, Shigella spp. is green
or transparent, and Salmonella spp. is green
or transparent with black centers.
Hemin-supplemented egg yolk agar
It is similar to Neomycin egg yolk agar.
Isolator or lysis-centrifugation tube (Wampole
Laboratories)
The Isolator is a unique system for the purpose of
recovering organisms from the blood through a
simultaneous process of lysis and centrifugation.
The system is especially good for the recovery of
dimorphic fungi, yeasts, mycobacteria,
and Bartonella spp. Recovery of
anaerobes, Haemophilus spp., and pneumococci
may be reduced.
Iso-Sensitest agar and broth
Iso-Sensitest agar and broth are media used for
susceptibility testing in countries outside the
United States.
John E. Martin Biological Enrichment Chamber
(JEMBEC) (BBL) and InTray GC System transport
medium (Biotest)
The JEMBEC and InTray GC devices are
transport/inoculation media for direct plating of
specimens for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae
Kanamycin-vancomycin laked sheep blood agar
Kanamycin-vancomycin laked sheep blood agar is
an enriched, selective, and differential medium
used for the isolation and cultivation of anaerobic
bacteria, especially slowly growing and fastidious
anaerobes from clinical specimens, such
as Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.
Lactobacillus MRS broth
Lactobacillus MRS (deMan, Rogosa, and Sharpe)
broth is a nonselective liquid medium used for the
isolation and cultivation of lactobacilli from clinical
specimens and dairy and food products.
Levinthal agar with bacitracin and H.
influenzae antiserum
It is similar to Chocolate agar.
Lim broth
Lim broth is a modification of Todd-Hewitt broth
and is an enriched selective liquid medium used for
the isolation and cultivation of Streptococcus
agalactiae.
Lithium chloride-phenylethanolmoxalactam agar
Lithium chloride-phenylethanol-moxalactam agar
is an enriched and selective agar used for the
isolation and cultivation of Listeria
monocytogenes.
Loeffler’s medium
Loeffler’s medium is an enriched nonselective
medium used for the cultivation of corynebacteria,
especially C. diphtheriae.
Lombard-Dowell egg yolk agar
It is similar to Neomycin egg yolk agar.
Lowenstein-Jensen medium
Lowenstein-Jensen medium is an enriched
nonselective medium used for the isolation and
cultivation of mycobacteria. It is similar to the
American Trudeau Society medium in its content
and its ability to grow mycobacteria.
Lowenstein-Jensen medium (Gruft modification)
The Gruft modification of the Lowenstein-Jensen
medium is an enriched selective medium used for
the isolation of mycobacteria. Penicillin and
nalidixic acid are added to the medium and inhibit
gram-positive and gram-negative organisms,
respectively. RNA is added as a growth stimulant.
Lowenstein-Jensen medium (Mycobactosel
modification)
The Mycobactosel modification of the Lowenstein-
Jensen medium is an enriched selective medium
for the isolation of mycobacteria. Cycloheximide,
lincomycin, and nalidixic acid inhibit saprophytic
fungi, gram-positive organisms, and gram-negative
organisms, respectively. No RNA is added.
Lowenstein-Jensen medium with 1% ferric
ammonium citrate
Lowenstein-Jensen medium with 1% ferric
ammonium citrate is an enriched and selective egg-
based medium used for the recovery
of Mycobacterium haemophilum. Ferric
ammonium citrate is the additive that allows this
organism to grow.
Lysis-centrifugation tube
It is similar to Isolator
Lowenstein-Jensen medium with 5% NaCl
Lowenstein-Jensen medium with 5% NaCl is an
enriched selective medium used to differentiate
sodium chloridetolerant strains of Mycobacterium.
Most rapid growers, e.g., the Mycobacterium
fortuitum complex, as well as the more slowly
growing organism Mycobacterium triviale, will
grow on this medium.
MacConkey agar
MacConkey agar is a selective and differential
medium used for the isolation of gram-negative
organisms. The nutritive base includes a variety of
peptones. The medium is made selective by the
incorporation of bile (although at levels less than
those used in other enteric media) and crystal
violet, which inhibit gram-positive organisms,
especially enterococci and staphylococci.
MacConkey agar with sorbitol (SMAC)
SMAC is a selective and differential medium used
for the isolation and differentiation of sorbitol-
negative E. coli.
MacConkey broth
MacConkey broth is a differential medium
containing the indicator bromcresol purple used
for the detection of coliform organisms from
contaminated food, water, or stools.
Mannitol-egg yolk-polymyxin B agar
Mannitol-egg yolk-polymyxin B agar is an enriched,
selective, and differential medium used for the
isolation of B. cereus from mixed clinical
specimens.
Mannitol salt agar
Mannitol salt agar is a selective and differential
medium used for the isolation of S. aureus.
Martin-Lewis agar
Martin-Lewis agar is an enriched and selective
medium for the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae.
MB/BacT ALERT (bioMèrieux)
MB/BacT ALERT contains a modified Middlebrook
7H9 medium supplemented with casein, bovine
serum albumin, and catalase. It is used with
MB/BacT ALERT 3D (bioMerieux, Inc.) for the
cultivation and detection of mycobacterial growth.
MGIT (mycobacteria growth indicator tube) (BD
Diagnostic Systems)
MGIT is a Middlebrook 7H9-based broth system
that contains a fluorescence indicator, which is
used for the detection of mycobacterial growth.
Middlebrook 7H10 agar
Middlebrook 7H10 agar is an enriched nonselective
agar-based medium used for the isolation and
cultivation of mycobacterial species.
Middlebrook 7H11 agar
Middlebrook 7H11 agar is a nonselective agar-based
medium used for the isolation and cultivation
of Mycobacterium species.
Middlebrook 7H9 broth with glycerol
Middlebrook 7H9 broth with glycerol is an
enriched nonselective broth for the isolation
of Mycobacterium species.
Mitchison 7H11 selective agar
Mitchison 7H11 selective agar is an enriched
selective agar-based medium used for the isolation
of Mycobacterium species.
Modified Irgasan-ticarcillin-potassium chromate
broth
Modified Irgasan-ticarcillin-potassium chromate
broth is a selective broth used for the isolation
of Y. enterocolitica.
Modified Thayer-Martin agar
Modified Thayer-Martin agar is an enriched and
selective agar for the isolation of
pathogenic Neisseria species from clinical
specimens with mixed flora.
Mueller-Hinton agar with and without 5% sheep
blood
Mueller-Hinton agar with 5% sheep blood is used
for susceptibility testing of S. pneumoniae.
Mueller-Hinton agar with 5% chocolate blood plus
1% IsoVitaleX and 3gm of vancomycin per ml is used
for the isolation of H. ducreyi.
Mueller-Hinton agar with 2% NaCl
Mueller-Hinton agar with 2% NaCl is a selective medium
used for testing the susceptibility of Staphylococcus to
the penicillinase-resistant penicillins methicillin,
nafcillin, and oxacillin by agar dilution or with the
gradient-based system (E test)
Mueller-Hinton agar with 4% NaCl and 6 gm of
oxacillin per ml
Mueller-Hinton agar with 4% NaCl and 6 gm of
oxacillin per ml is the selective, differential medium
used to screen S. aureus (not coagulase-negative
staphylococci) for resistance to penicillinase-
resistant penicillins (e.g., nafcillin, methicillin, and
oxacillin).
Mueller-Hinton broth
Mueller-Hinton broth is a magnesium and calcium
cation adjusted liquid medium used in procedures
for susceptibility testing of aerobic gram-positive
and gram-negative organisms by both macro
dilution and microdilution methods.
Multiprobe media (M4-3, M5, and M4-RT) (Remel)
M4-3 contains vancomycin, amphotericin B, and
colistin and is suitable for the transport of viruses,
chlamydiae, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma. M5 is
similar to M4-3, but it does not contain gelatin. M5
is suitable for the transport of viruses,
chlamydiae, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma.
Mycobactosel agar
Mycobactosel is a BBL trade name for an enriched
selective agar-based medium used for the isolation
of Mycobacterium species.
MycoTrim GU and MycoTrim RS (Irvine Scientific)
The MycoTrim GU and MycoTrim RS culture
systems are unique triphasic flask systems
specifically designed for the isolation and
identification of M. hominis, U. urealyticum (GU),
and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (RS).
NAG medium
NAG medium is an enriched and selective medium
used for the isolation and cultivation
of Haemophilus species from clinical specimens
with mixed flora.
Neomycin egg yolk agar
Neomycin egg yolk agar is a selective and
differential medium used for the differentiation of
anaerobic organisms that are lipase positive,
including Clostridium spp., Prevotella intermedia,
Fusobacterium necrophorum, and some strains
of Prevotella loescheii.
Neomycin-vancomycin agar
Neomycin-vancomycin agar is an enriched and
selective medium that is particularly good for the
isolation and cultivation of Fusobacterium from
clinical specimens.
New York City medium
New York City medium is an enriched and selective
medium for the isolation of
pathogenic Neisseria from clinical specimens.
Nucleic acid transport (NAT) (Medical Packaging
Corporation)
NAT is a nucleic acid transport device that is FDA
cleared for use with multiple amplification and
hybridization testing formats.
Oxford agar
Oxford agar is an enriched and selective medium
used for the isolation of L. monocytogenes.
Oxidative-fermentative polymyxin B-
bacitracinlactose agar
Oxidative-fermentative polymyxin B-bacitracin-
lactose medium is a selective and differential
medium used for the isolation of B. cepacia from
respiratory specimens from patients with cystic
fibrosis.
P agar
P agar is an enriched medium used for the
cultivation and isolation of staphylococci.
Peptone yeast extract broth
Peptone yeast extract broth is used in the analysis
of metabolic products by gas-liquid
chromatography because there is negligible acid
volatility within the medium.
Petragnani medium
Petragnani medium is an egg-based medium. It is
also used for the cultivation and maintenance
of Mycobacterium smegmatis.
Phenylethyl alcohol agar
Phenylethyl alcohol agar is an enriched and
selective blood agar medium used for the
detection and isolation of anaerobic organisms,
particularly fastidious and slowly growing bacteria,
from clinical specimens with mixed flora.
PLM-5 TM Regan-Lowe medium
PLM-5 TM is a proprietary medium formulation Regan-Lowe medium is an enriched and selective
(Intergen Co., Purchase, N.Y.) similar to medium used for the isolation of B. pertussis. Beef
Ellinghausen-McCullough/ Johnson-Harris medium extract pancreatic digest, horse blood, and niacin
that is used for the isolation and cultivation are the nutritional base.
of Leptospira.
Salmonella-shigella agar
Polymyxin B-acriflavine-lithium
Salmonella-shigella agar is a selective and
chlorideceftazidime-esculin-mannitol (PALCAM)
differential medium used for the isolation and
agar
differentiation of
PALCAM agar is an enriched, differential, and
Salmonella and Shigella from clinical specimens
selective agar medium used for the isolation of L.
and other sources.
monocytogenes.
Schaedler’s agar
Polymyxin B-lysozyme-EDTA-thallous acetate agar
Schaedler’s agar is a general-purpose medium used
Polymyxin B-lysozyme-EDTA-thallous acetate agar
for the isolation and cultivation of anaerobic
is a selective agar used for the isolation of B.
bacteria.
anthracis from environmental specimens.
Schleifer-Kramer agar
Polymyxin B-pyruvate-egg yolk-
mannitolbromthymol blue agar Schleifer-Kramer agar is a selective medium used
for the isolation of Staphylococcus from heavily
Polymyxin B-pyruvate-egg yolk-mannitol-
contaminated specimens such as feces.
bromthymol blue agar is an enriched, selective,
and differential medium used for the isolation of B. Selenite broth
cereus.
Selenite broth is an enrichment broth medium
Polysorbate 80 medium used for the isolation
of Salmonella and Shigella species.
It is similar to Ellinghausen-McCullough/Johnson-
Harris medium. Sensitest agar
PRAS media Sensitest agar is a medium used in susceptibility
testing outside of the United States.
Prereduced anaerobically sterilized (PRAS) media
are specifically manufactured (Anaerobe Systems) Septic-Chek biphasic mycobacterial media
and packaged to eliminate oxygen to enhance the
The Septic-Chek system (Becton Dickinson
growth of anaerobic organisms.
Microbiology Systems) is a mycobacterial culture
Pseudomonas cepacia (PC) agar system that contains modified 7H9 broth and three
types of solid media, modified Lowenstein-Jensen,
PC agar is a selective medium used for the isolation
Middlebrook 7H11, and chocolate agars, with
of B. cepacia (formerly Pseudomonas cepacia)
various supplements.
from respiratory specimens from cystic fibrosis
patients. Skirrow medium
Rambach agar Skirrow medium is an enriched selective blood
agar medium used for the isolation
It is similar to CHROMagar.
of Campylobacter spp. from specimens with mixed
Rappaport-Vassiliadis enrichment broth flora.
Rappaport-Vassiliadis enrichment broth is a
selective and enriched broth used for the isolation
and cultivation of Salmonella spp. from food and
environmental specimens.
STGG
STGG medium (skim milk, tryptone, glucose, and
glycerin) is a transport medium that has been used
for the collection of nasopharyngeal swabs for the
purposes of isolation and preservation of S.
pneumoniae.
StrepB carrot broth kit (Hardy Diagnostics) and
GBS broth (Northeast Laboratory Services)
Carrot broth and GBS broth are media that allow
for the detection of red, red-orange, or orange
pigment production by beta-hemolytic S.
agalactiae (GBS) due to the hemolytic reaction
with substrates such as starch, protease, peptone,
and serum.
Streptococcus selective agar
Streptococcus selective agar is a selective medium
for the detection of streptococci. The agar base is
Columbia agar.
Stuart’s transport media with and without
charcoal
Stuart’s transport medium is an early transport
medium first described in 1948. This medium uses
glycerol phosphate to maintain the specimen as
well as maintain the pH, agar, methylene blue as a
redox indicator, and sodium thioglycolate to allow
the survival of anaerobes.
Sucrose-phosphate-glutamate transport medium
Sucrose-phosphate-glutamate transport medium is
used for the maintenance and transport
of Chlamydia species and viruses.
2-Sucrose-phosphate transport media
2-Sucrose-phosphate medium is used for the
transport of specimens for the purpose of
culturing Chlamydia
trachomatis and Mycoplasma spp.
Tetrathionate broth base
Tetrathionate broth base is an enriched liquid
medium used for the isolation
of Salmonella species in contaminated clinical
specimens and other products.
Thayer-Martin agar
Thayer-Martin agar is an enriched and selective
medium used for the isolation of Neisseria from
clinical specimens with mixed flora.
Thioglycolate with hemin and vitamin K
Thioglycolate broth with hemin and vitamin K is an
enriched liquid medium used to support the
growth of microaerophilic and anaerobic
organisms, including fastidious organisms.
Thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS)
TCBS is a highly selective and differential medium
for the recovery of Vibrio spp. except for Vibrio
hollisae and Vibrio cincinnatiensis.
Tinsdale agar
It is similar to Cystine-tellurite blood agar.
Todd-Hewitt broth with gentamicin and nalidixic
acid
Todd-Hewitt broth is used for the isolation of beta-
hemolytic streptococci from mixed flora, especially
vaginal specimens for GBS.
Tryptic or Trypticase soy agar base with 5% sheep
blood
Tryptic or Trypticase soy agar base with 5% sheep
blood is a general-purpose medium used for the
isolation of a wide variety of organisms.  The use of
sheep blood provides an excellent means of
interpretation of hemolytic reactions, especially
those of Streptococcus spp.
Tryptic or Trypticase soy broth
Tryptic or Trypticase soy broth is a general-purpose
clear liquid medium used for the cultivation of a
wide variety of organisms. It is also recommended
by the CLSI for the preparation of inoculum for
Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility testing and
is the CLSI’s choice as a sterility testing medium.
Formulations with 6.5% NaCl exist for the purposes
of differentiating enterococcal species or salt-
tolerant streptococci. Fildes enrichment is added
to cultivate fastidious organisms such
as Haemophilus spp.
Trypticase soy agar with horse or rabbit blood
Trypticase soy agar with horse or rabbit blood
medium is used for the isolation
of Haemophilus species.
V agar
 V agar is an enriched and selective medium
used for the isolation of G. vaginalis from
clinical specimens
University of Vermont modified listeria
enrichment broth

 University of Vermont modified listeria

enrichment broth is an enriched and
selective liquid medium used for the
isolation of L. monocytogenes
VMGA III medium

 VMGA III (viability medium, Goteborg,

anaerobic) is a transport and collection
medium specifically designed to maintain
the viability of mixed anaerobes from
peridontal and endodontal sites.
Wadowsky-Yee medium

 It is similar to Buffered charcoal yeast

extract (BCYE).
Wilkins-Chalgren broth and agar

 Wilkins-Chalgren medium is recommended

for susceptibility testing with anaerobic
organisms. The medium contains specific
nutrients that support the growth of
anaerobes such as yeast extract, vitamin K,
hemin, and arginine.
Xylose-lysine-desoxycholate (XLD) agar

 Xylose-lysine-desoxycholate agar is a
selective and differential medium used for
the isolation and differentiation of enteric
pathogens from clinical specimens. This
medium is more supportive of fastidious
enteric organisms such as Shigella.
For Salmonella, which contains the lysine
enzyme, this reaction reverts the pH to an
alkaline state and the colony appears to be
transparent or red with a black center. A
number of other similar media for isolation
of enteric pathogens exist, including xylose-
galactosidase medium, which is more
specific for Aeromonas spp.
Yersinia selective agar

 It is similar to Cefsulodin-Irgasan-
novobiocin medium