What is the selective agent in MSA?
salt
MSA (MacConkey Sorbitol Agar) is a type of bacterial growth medium used for the isolation and identification of particular strains of bacteria, particularly those that can ferment sorbitol. The selective agent in MSA is bile salts and crystal violet, which inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and allow the growth of Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, sorbitol in the medium acts as a differential agent, allowing the differentiation of sorbitol-fermenting bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7) from non-fermenters based on their ability to produce acid and change the color of the pH indicator in the agar from red to yellow. Therefore, the combination of selective and differential agents in MSA makes it a useful tool for the isolation and identification of key bacteria in clinical and public health settings.
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