Why TCBS agar is not autoclaved?

Why TCBS agar is not autoclaved

Table of Contents

Answer:

Thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) Agar is used for the selective isolation of Vibrio cholerae and other enteropathogenic vibrios. TCBS agar is composed of yeast extract, peptone, sodium thiosulfate, sodium citrate, ox bile (oxgall), sucrose, sodium chloride, iron (III) citrate, bromothymol blue, thymol blue, agar, and distilled or deionized water. TCBS is not autoclaved because:

  • This media contains Ox bile (Oxgall), a derivative of bile salts which inhibit gram-positive bacteria might be sensitive while autoclaving.
  • This agar needs to be boiled and not autoclaved to avoid the caramelization (browning) of sucrose.
  • Autoclaving may precipitate and/or alter the chemistry of the media.

References

  1. https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_is_TCBS_media_for_culturing_Vcholerae_not_supposed_to_be_autoclaved_autoclave.
  2. https://microbiologyinfo.com/thiosulfate-citrate-bile-salts-sucrose-tcbs-agar-composition-principle-uses-preparation-and-colony-morphology/
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S007963520380098X
  4. https://www.chegg.com/tutors/Microbiology-questions/why-we-cannot-autoclave-TCBS-agar–V5TUV/
  5. https://aem.asm.org/content/62/9/3548.full.pdf
  6. https://microbenotes.com/thiosulfate-citrate-bile-salts-sucrose-tcbs-agar/

About Author

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Sagar Aryal

Sagar Aryal is a microbiologist and a scientific blogger. He is currently doing his Ph.D. from the Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University in collaboration with Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrucken, Germany. He did his M.Sc. in Microbiology and B.Sc. in Microbiology from St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu, Nepal. He worked as a Lecturer at St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal, from March 2017 to June 2019. He is interested in research on actinobacteria, myxobacteria, and natural products. He has published more than 15 research articles and book chapters in international journals and well-renowned publishers.

1 thought on “Why TCBS agar is not autoclaved?”

  1. Taxonomy Of Bacteria is a dynamic science. Can you explain how? Please send me answer to my mail if possible

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