The selective agent in mannitol salt medium is sodium chloride (NaCl). This high concentration of salt inhibits the growth of most bacteria, allowing only salt-tolerant organisms, particularly staphylococci, to thrive. Additionally, mannitol serves as a carbohydrate source, and some staphylococci can ferment it, producing acid and changing the color of the pH indicator in the medium.
Both
7.5% NaCl
mannitol is a type of sugar, so it supplies the carbon in the MSA medium
No, the mannitol salt medium would not function effectively without the salt component. The high salt concentration selectively inhibits the growth of most bacteria except for salt-tolerant species, such as Staphylococcus. Without salt, the medium would not provide the necessary selective pressure, allowing non-target organisms to grow and compromising the medium's effectiveness for isolating specific bacteria.
Mannitol Salt Agar typically contains a high concentration of salt, which acts as the selective agent. This high salt concentration provides an environment that restricts the growth of many organisms, allowing only salt-tolerant bacteria such as Staphylococcus species to grow on the agar plate.
Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) is a selective and differential medium that is specific for Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus can ferment mannitol, leading to acid production that changes the pH indicator in the medium, causing yellow colonies to form. Additionally, the high salt concentration in MSA inhibits the growth of other bacteria, allowing for selective isolation of Staphylococcus aureus.
the salt content
Mannitol salt agar (MSA) contains high levels of salt because it inhibits the growth of most bacteria. This makes it an excellent medium to test for Staphylococci and Micrococcaceae as they are tolerant of high levels of NaCl.
Mannitol salt agar or MSA is a commonly used growth medium in microbiology. It contains a high concentration (~7.5%-10%) of salt (NaCl), making it selective for Staphylococci (and Micrococcaceae) since this level of NaCl is inhibitory to most other bacteria.
Mannitol Salt Agar is selective for staphylococci as the high salt (sodium chloride) levels prohibit most other bacteria from surviving and it is differential as Staphylococci ferment mannitol, producing acid, lowering the pH and turning the media yellow. The development of yellow media presumes the bacteria to be pathogenic Staphylococcus (usually S. aureus). From A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory by Leboffe and Pierce.
For the isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus, Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) is commonly used. MSA is selective due to its high salt concentration, which inhibits most other bacteria, while S. aureus can tolerate it and ferments mannitol, leading to a color change in the medium. Additionally, Baird-Parker Agar is another selective medium that helps in the identification of S. aureus, as it contains egg yolk and tellurite, allowing for the visualization of characteristic colonies.
In Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), sodium chloride serves as a selective agent that inhibits the growth of most bacteria except for staphylococci, which are tolerant to high salt concentrations. The high salt concentration creates an osmotic environment that most other bacteria cannot survive. Additionally, MSA contains mannitol as a fermentable carbohydrate, allowing for the differentiation of staphylococci based on their ability to ferment mannitol, which produces acid and changes the pH indicator in the medium, resulting in a color change.