Cholera agar is a specific growth medium used in microbiology to cultivate the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The spelling of the word "cholera" is /kəˈlɛrə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The pronunciation of "agar" is /ˈɑːɡər/, with the stress on the first syllable. These pronunciations are represented using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which uses symbols to indicate the sounds of speech. By using specific spelling and phonetic symbols, researchers and scientists can communicate more clearly and accurately in the field of microbiology.
Cholera agar is a specific type of agar medium used in microbiology to culture and identify the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. It is a solid growth medium that provides the necessary nutrients and conditions for the growth of V. cholerae while inhibiting the growth of other microorganisms.
The composition of cholera agar typically includes peptone, sodium chloride, and agar, along with other specific ingredients like bile salts and carbohydrates such as sucrose or lactose. Bile salts inhibit the growth of many bacteria, except for V. cholerae which is able to tolerate these compounds. The presence of appropriate carbohydrates allows for the differentiation of V. cholerae from other bacteria through specific biochemical reactions.
Cholera agar is usually prepared as a solid medium in Petri dishes, allowing for the isolation and identification of V. cholerae from clinical samples or environmental specimens. The medium can be supplemented with a pH indicator, such as phenol red, to detect the fermentation of carbohydrates by V. cholerae. Positive results, indicated by a change in the color of the medium, can help distinguish V. cholerae colonies from other organisms.
Overall, cholera agar provides a selective and differential medium to support the growth of V. cholerae and aid in its identification, making it an essential tool in clinical and environmental microbiology laboratories studying cholera.
An alkaline agar medium for cultures of the cholera vibrio; it is made by dissolving by heat agar, 30, in nutrient bouillon, 1000; and adding a 10 per cent. solution of potassium hydrate, 30.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "cholera agar" is derived from two different sources.
1. "Cholera" comes from the Greek word "kholera", meaning "a flow of bile". It was originally used to describe a severe gastrointestinal infection that causes diarrhea and vomiting. The term "cholera" was first used in the English language in the early 19th century.
2. "Agar" refers to a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed, and it is commonly used as a culture medium to grow bacteria and other microorganisms in a laboratory setting. The term "agar" originated from the Malay word "agar-agar", which means "jelly".
When combined, "cholera agar" refers to a specific type of agar that is used in microbiology laboratories to cultivate and identify cholera-causing bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae.