"Endos medium" is a term used in microbiology to refer to a type of growth medium for laboratory cultures. The correct spelling of the word is [ˈɛndoʊz meːdiəm], which is phonetically transcribed as EN-dohz MEE-dee-um. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound followed by "n" and "d" sounds. The second syllable has a long "o" sound followed by a "z" sound. The final syllable has a long "e" sound followed by "d" and "i" sounds. Proper spelling is critical in scientific fields where accuracy and precision are important.
Endo's medium is a selective and differential culture medium used in microbiology for the isolation and differentiation of gram-negative bacteria, particularly coliforms. It was developed by Samuel M. Endo in the 1950s and has since become a widely used tool in clinical laboratories and research settings.
The medium consists of several components that serve different purposes. The base of Endo's medium is a combination of peptones and gelatin, which provides nutritional support for bacterial growth. It also contains lactose as the sole carbohydrate source, along with the pH indicator bromothymol blue. Lactose-fermenting bacteria produce acid during fermentation, causing the pH indicator to change from green to yellow.
Endo's medium is selective due to the presence of bile salts and aniline blue, which inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria while allowing the growth of gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the inclusion of eosin Y and methylene blue suppresses the growth of non-lactose fermenters and facilitates the differentiation of lactose fermenters based on their ability to produce acid.
It is also important to note that Endo's medium is primarily used for the isolation and differentiation of coliforms, which are a group of gram-negative bacteria commonly associated with fecal contamination. This medium's ability to suppress the growth of non-coliform organisms while promoting the growth of coliforms makes it a valuable tool in microbial analysis and identification in various fields, including clinical diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring.
A culture medium of nutrient agar with the addition of 10 per cent. soda solution, milk sugar, alcohol-fuchsin solution, and 10 per cent. sodium sulphite solution; the colon bacillus on this medium gives intensely red colonies, the typhoid and paratyphoid bacilli colorless colonies.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.