|
Principle
- Listeria Oxford Medium Base is composed of special peptone, lithium chloride, sodium chloride, corn starch, esculin, and ammonium ferric citrate. Special peptones serve as a source of carbon, nitrogen, amino acids, and other necessary elements for the growth.
- Lithium chloride provides selectivity and inhibits bacteria other than Listeria species. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium. Corn starch is added to eliminate or absorb toxic metabolites produce during growth.
- Esculin is used for the identification of enterococci, enterococci hydrolyze esculin. Esculetin reacts with ferric ammonium citrate to form a dark brown or black complex.
- To increase the selectivity the medium can be fortified with antimicrobial agents.
|
