Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

Peptone Yeast Extract Broth Based Media are enriched nonselective media that are supplemented with hemin and vitamin K to facilitate the recovery of the more fastidious organisms such as Prevotella spp, Porphyromonas spp, and the Bacteroides fragilis group. With the addition of a specific biochemical, the Peptone Yeast Extract Broth Based Media are used to determine whether anaerobic bacteria will utilize the biochemical or if growth is stimulated or inhibited. Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth is a nonselective broth media originally formulated by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute Anaerobe Laboratory (VPI) group to facilitate the recovery of more fastidious microorganisms and for use in chromatographic analysis of metabolic products from the fermentation of glucose. This chromatographic analysis is useful in the identification of clinically important anaerobic bacteria. The media is prepared, dispensed, and packaged under oxygen-free conditions in order to prevent the formation of oxidized products prior to use.

Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

Composition of Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

Ingredients Grams/Liter
Pancreatic Digest of Casein20.0gm
Yeast Extract10.0gm
Glucose10.0gm
L-Cysteine0.5gm
Sodium Bicarbonate0.4gm
Sodium Chloride0.08gm
Monopotassium Phosphate0.04gm
Dipotassium Phosphate0.04gm
Calcium Chloride, Anhydrous0.008gm
Magnesium Sulfate, Anhydrous0.008gm
Hemin Solution, 0.1%5.0ml
Vitamin K Solution, 1%0.1ml

Final pH 7.3 +/- 0.5 at 25ºC.

Principle of Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth contains a pancreatic digest of casein and yeast extract that supplies nitrogenous compounds and other nutrients required for the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Sodium bicarbonate and dipotassium phosphate are buffers. Glucose serves as an energy source and L-cysteine is a reducing agent and maintains low oxygen potential which aid to stimulate the growth of anaerobic microorganisms. The growth factors hemin which supplies X factor and vitamin K are required for growth by many fastidious anaerobes and are also known to promote pigment production in certain anaerobic species. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts are pH stabilizers that help to maintain osmotic balance and provide critical ions used in transport. The medium is prepared and processed in an atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen.

Preparation of Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

  1. Add components to tap water and bring volume to 1.0 L.
  2. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Gently heat and bring to boiling.
  4. Distribute into tubes or flasks.
  5. Autoclave for 15 min at 15 psi pressure–121°C.
  6. Pour into sterile Petri dishes or leave in tubes.

Result and Interpretation on Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

A positive result (inoculated medium):  Growth is evident by observation of slight turbidity (cloudiness) with smooth (sometimes stringy, granular, or flocculent) sediment.

A negative result (uninoculated medium): No growth, no turbidity

pH Measurements

  • Once sufficient growth has been observed, the pH can be read directly from the culture tube using a pH meter and a long thin combination electrode.

Interpretation of pH

  • A pH value of 5.5 to 6.0 is considered a weak acid production.
  • A pH value of 5.5 or less is strong acid production.
  • A pH above 6.0 is indicative of no acid production.

Uses of Peptone Yeast Extract Glucose Broth

  • It is used for the cultivation and biochemical identification of obligately anaerobic microorganisms.
  • It is used to identify the short chain acid end products and for the determination of glucose fermentation by anaerobic bacteria for identification from clinical specimens.
  • It is also suitable for the growth of anaerobic bacteria to be identified by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analysis.

Limitations

  • Additional testing such as morphological, biochemical, and/or serological tests should be performed for final identification to confirm the findings.
  • This broth will not provide complete information for the identification of bacterial isolates.

References

  1. Himedia
  2. Thermofisher
  3. Becton, Dickinson and Company
  4. Hardy Diagnostic
  5. Anaerobe Systems

About Author

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Sagar Aryal, PhD

Dr. Sagar Aryal is a microbiologist, researcher, and science communicator from Nepal. He is also co-founder and Research Head of the Department of Natural Products at the Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), where he leads research on natural product discovery and microbial biodiversity. Dr. Aryal earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2025, supported by a DAAD Research Grant and a University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal Ph.D. Fellowship. His research interests include Actinomycetes, Myxobacteria, microbial taxonomy, and natural products, particularly the discovery of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications. He isolated and identified Nocardia nepalensis, a novel bacterial species from Nepal, contributing to understanding microbial diversity in the region. Dr. Aryal has published more than 16 research articles in international journals and contributed three book chapters to established academic publications. He has presented scientific research findings and developed international research collaborations through visits to more than 18 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. From 2023 to 2025, he served as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador to Nepal. Since December 2025, he has served as an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports, a Nature Portfolio journal. In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Aryal received the NAST Science and Technology Youth Award 2025 from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He previously received the Frs. Locke and Stiller Research Award (LSRA) for the 2017-2018 cycle from St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu, and a Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Research Grant for 2017-2018. Alongside his scientific career, Dr. Aryal has more than 15 years of experience in blogging, content writing, and search engine optimization (SEO).

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