MSE Agar - BioReagent

Cat. No.: M1528718

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Overview

For enumeration of Leuconostoc in milk, dairy products, and confectionery

Specifications

Specifications & Purity

BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Grade

BioReagent

Product Line

Biological Products

Application Protocols

No antibody-based or immunoassay protocols apply. Below are general, literature-based protocols for agar media handling (adapt to your SOPs and the specific formulation).

Typical workflow (literature, general):

• Medium preparation: Weigh dehydrated medium per the manufacturer’s recommended grams per liter (not specified here). Suspend in water, heat to dissolve, adjust pH only if directed, and autoclave.
• Supplementation: Cool to ~45–55 °C; aseptically add sterile-filtered supplements (e.g., antibiotics, chromogenic substrates) if required by your method.
• Plate pouring: Pour 20–25 mL per 90-mm plate (or per your assay specification). Allow to set; dry surface in a biosafety cabinet if excess condensation is present.
• Inoculation: Use sterile loop streaking for isolation or spread 100 µL of a defined dilution for enumeration. For membrane filtration methods, place the membrane onto the plate using sterile technique.
• Incubation and reading: Incubate under organism-appropriate conditions; inspect plates at method-defined intervals for colony morphology, color changes, and CFU counts.

Item-specific parameters (grams per liter, target pH, incubation temperature, interpretation criteria): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Biological Roles

MSE Agar functions as a physical support and nutrient source for microbial growth. While not a biological macromolecule from the host lab system, its components influence cellular behaviors in culture.

General roles (literature):

• Agar matrix: Provides a porous, inert scaffold permitting diffusion of nutrients and metabolites while immobilizing colonies on a two-dimensional surface for isolation and enumeration.
• Nutritional components: Peptones, extracts, carbohydrates, and salts (as formulated) supply carbon, nitrogen, and growth factors tuned to the target organisms and selective/differential aims.
• Selective agents/indicators: If present in the MSE formulation, these modulate growth (e.g., via salt tolerance, inhibitors) and report biochemical activities (e.g., fermentation, enzyme production) through color or opacity changes.
• Physicochemical cues: Osmolarity, ionic composition, and redox potential of the medium can affect stress responses, biofilm tendencies, and enzymatic expression profiles.

Exact composition and biological function of the “MSE” formulation: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Users should confirm organism suitability and performance with control strains before routine application.

Buffer Applications

This product is a solid culture medium, not a dedicated buffering reagent. While most media include buffering capacity (e.g., phosphates, organic buffers) to stabilize pH during incubation, the exact buffer system and pH range for MSE Agar are not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Practical guidance (literature):

• Typical target pH for many bacteriological agars is near neutrality after sterilization; verify with a calibrated pH meter if critical to your assay.
• If additional buffering is required for specialized organisms, consider overlay/underlay approaches or select a medium formulated with an appropriate buffer (e.g., phosphate, MOPS) rather than modifying a selective medium, which can alter performance.

Green Alternatives

Agar-based media are already plant/seaweed-derived and free of animal gelatins, aligning with many green chemistry and sustainability principles.

Comparison (literature, general):

• Agar vs. gelatin: Agar forms stronger gels at lower concentrations, has a higher melting point, and is non-animal derived. Gelatin can be animal-derived and melts near physiological temperatures, limiting microbiological use.
• Agar vs. gellan gum: Gellan can offer transparent gels and is microbially produced; however, it may require precise cation control and can be more costly. Agar is broadly robust and tolerant of diverse formulations.
• Ready-poured vs. in-house plates: Preparing plates in-house from dehydrated media reduces plastic waste from single-use, pre-poured plates but requires autoclave energy; institutions can balance resource use by batching production.

Environmental considerations:

• Waste minimization: Prepare only the volume needed; autoclave biological waste to inactivate cultures before disposal according to local regulations.
• Water/energy: Use efficient autoclave cycles and insulated cooling racks to reduce energy consumption.

Item-specific eco data (carbon footprint, biodegradability): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic claims. This product is intended for laboratory research use only.

Relevant non-clinical contexts (literature):

• Environmental monitoring and bioburden testing in manufacturing settings often employ selective/differential agar plates. If the MSE formulation aligns with compendial or in-house methods, it may be used for process checks and hygiene trending. Compliance must be demonstrated through growth-promotion testing and method suitability studies.
• Raw material/utility testing: Agar plates can support microbiological quality assessments of water, compressed gases, and surfaces using contact plates or swabs, provided the medium’s selectivity matches the target organisms.

Item-specific pharmacopeial status (e.g., alignment to USP/EP/JP monographs) and validated applications: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and your quality unit.

Physical Properties

Item-specific physical constants are not provided for this complex medium.

• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Solubility: Freely dispersible in water; dissolves on heating to near-boiling or during autoclaving to yield a clear to slightly opalescent solution that gels on cooling (literature, general for agar-based media).
• Gel properties (literature): Agar gels typically set (gelation) at ~32–40 °C and melt at ~80–90 °C, exhibiting thermal hysteresis; final gel strength depends on agar content, salts, and other solutes.
• pH: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. (Most dehydrated media specify a target pH at 25 °C after sterilization; consult product documentation.)
• Density, refractive index, logP, pKa: Not applicable/not defined for complex mixtures; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Practical notes (literature):

• Typical working concentration for plate media corresponds to ~1.5–2.0% agar (w/v), adjusted per the medium’s formulation to achieve firm, non-syneresing plates.
• Ionic strength and carbohydrates in the formulation can modestly lower gel point and affect clarity.

Quality & Grades

• Grade/Purity: BioReagent (as provided). This designation indicates suitability for laboratory biological applications (e.g., microbiology media preparation), emphasizing consistent performance, low bioburden, and controlled raw-material sourcing, rather than analytical trace specifications.

What this means in practice (general guidance):

• Performance focus: Batch-to-batch consistency in gelation, clarity, and growth-support characteristics is prioritized for reliable microbial culture results.
• Analytical limits: Item-specific contaminant limits (e.g., heavy metals, UV background, peroxide) are not typical for complex media and are not provided here. Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Stabilizers/antimicrobials: None are implied; dehydrated media are supplied dry and sterile after autoclaving by the user. Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Suitability: Appropriate for research and teaching labs. For regulated testing (e.g., pharmacopeial methods), verify compliance of the lot against the specific standard and perform growth-promotion testing as required.

Reaction & Applications

This product is intended for microbiological culture applications rather than chemical synthesis.

Laboratory applications (literature, general for selective/differential agar media):

• Isolation and enumeration: Supports colony formation on solid surfaces to permit isolation streaking and CFU counting from clinical, environmental, or industrial samples (research use only).
• Selective/differential testing: The specific MSE formulation may include inhibitors and/or indicators to promote or differentiate target taxa. Exact selectivity is not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and in-house validation.
• Quality control: Commonly used to assess hygiene monitoring, process contamination checks, or strain maintenance when the formulation aligns with organism requirements.
• Method workflows: Plate preparation, sample plating (spread/spiral/pooled dilutions), incubation under organism-appropriate conditions (temperature, atmosphere), and colony assessment (morphology, color change per indicator systems).

Practical tips (general):

• Pre-warm plates to reduce condensation; dry plates (lid ajar) in a biosafety cabinet if surfaces are overly wet.
• Validate growth promotion and selectivity with positive and negative control strains for each new lot.
• Avoid overheating post-autoclave; extended holding at high temperature can hydrolyze carbohydrates and soften gels.

Reaction Conditions

Chemical reaction parameters are not applicable. The relevant “conditions” pertain to medium preparation and sterilization.

General preparation guidelines (literature; verify with your SOP and this product’s documentation):

• Reconstitution medium: High-purity water. Heat with stirring to dissolve the dehydrated powder thoroughly.
• Sterilization: Autoclave (e.g., 121 °C, 15 min) unless the formulation contains heat-labile components; in such cases, sterile-filter supplements and add aseptically after autoclaving and cooling to ~45–55 °C.
• Plate pouring: Dispense into sterile Petri dishes on a level surface; allow to solidify with minimal condensation. Store plates inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed bags to limit desiccation if not used immediately.
• Incubation: Follow organism-specific temperature/atmosphere guidelines. Selectivity/differentiation depends on correct incubation conditions and reading windows.

Item-specific reconstitution ratio (g/L), target pH, and sterilization hold times: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Safety & Handling

Hazard classification for this item is not provided.

• GHS classification/pictograms/signal word/H-statements: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• Primary hazards (general): Low chemical hazard typical of dehydrated culture media; nuisance dust may cause mechanical irritation to eyes/respiratory tract. Use appropriate controls to avoid inhalation of dust (literature).
• PPE (good laboratory practice): Lab coat, safety glasses, and suitable gloves. Use a dust mask or work in a fume hood if dust generation is possible. Refer to SDS for authoritative guidance.
• Thermal handling: Hot agar solutions can cause severe burns. Use heat-resistant gloves and caution when pouring plates.
• Microbiological risk: When used to culture microorganisms, plates and spent media become biohazardous. Decontaminate by autoclaving before disposal in accordance with institutional biosafety procedures.
• Incompatibilities (general): Avoid strong oxidizers contacting organic media components. Prevent desiccant/solvent contamination; store tightly closed to minimize moisture uptake and caking.
• First aid (overview; defer to SDS): Rinse eyes with water if exposed to dust; wash skin with soap and water; move to fresh air if inhaled; if ingested, rinse mouth and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

Solvent Selection

Not a solvent. MSE Agar is a dehydrated medium designed to be dissolved in water.

Practical dissolution guidance (literature, general for agar-based media):

• Solvent: Use high-purity water (e.g., distilled or deionized). Dissolve by heating with stirring; autoclaving (e.g., 121 °C) typically completes dissolution and sterilization.
• Additives: Medium composition is pre-formulated; do not add solvents. Where supplements (e.g., antibiotics, indicators) are required, sterile-filter and add aseptically after the agar cools to ~45–55 °C to avoid thermal degradation.
• Miscibility: Not applicable; agar media are aqueous systems that gel on cooling.

When to choose vs alternatives (general):

• Choose this medium when the “MSE” formulation’s selectivity/differential characteristics match the target organism(s) or test. For non-selective propagation, consider nutrient agar or tryptic soy agar; for fungal isolation, consider malt extract agar or potato dextrose agar.

Storage & Reconstitution

• Storage conditions (provided): Room temperature. Keep container tightly closed, dry, and protected from humidity to prevent clumping.
• Shipping: Normal (provided).

Reconstitution and use (literature; general for agar media):

• Water quality: Use distilled/deionized water. Gradually add powder to water with stirring to minimize clumping. Heat to dissolve fully.
• Sterilization: Autoclave unless the formulation specifies an alternative. Allow to cool to ~45–55 °C before pouring plates or dispensing into tubes.
• Plate storage: Once solidified, store plates inverted in sealed sleeves at 2–8 °C to minimize dehydration; equilibrate to room temperature before use to avoid condensation.
• Shelf life: Refer to CoA/Spec Sheet for lot-specific expiration or retest date. Prepared plates are best used within a few weeks when stored properly; monitor for desiccation and contamination.

Item-specific details (exact reconstitution concentration, post-sterilization pH, hold times): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Research Use Note: For research use only.

Structure & Identity

MSE Agar is a prepared microbiological culture medium (dehydrated powder) composed of multiple ingredients, including a seaweed-derived polysaccharide gelling agent (agar) and nutrient/indicator components tailored for selective/differential cultivation. As a complex mixture, it does not have a single defined molecular structure.

• SKU: M1528718
• Product name: MSE Agar (dehydrated culture medium)
• Category: Life science microbiology medium (research use only)

Item-specific identifiers:

• Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• SMILES / InChI / InChIKey: Not applicable (complex mixture)

Structural features (general knowledge):

• Agar is a linear polysaccharide predominantly of repeating agarobiose units (D-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose) forming thermo-reversible gels above a critical concentration (literature).
• Medium includes additional components (peptones, salts, carbohydrates, indicators/selective agents) depending on the MSE formulation; exact composition: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

2D description (general):

• Heterogeneous particulate powder; upon dissolution in water and sterilization, forms a uniform gel matrix on cooling that supports microbial colony formation (literature).

Synthetic Utility

Not typically applicable. MSE Agar is a microbiological medium rather than a chemical reagent or building block.

For chemists seeking functional materials (general notes):

• Agar as a material can serve as a benign gel matrix for immobilizing catalysts, cells, or enzymes in biocatalysis experiments; however, such uses are outside the standard scope of selective culture media and require custom formulation.
• If a solid support for diffusion-controlled assays is desired, consider purified agarose or gellan with defined composition instead of complex nutrient media to avoid confounding chemical components.

Target Specificity

No antibody or molecular targeting information applies. This is a culture medium. Any organism selectivity or differential characteristics specific to the “MSE” formulation are not provided here.

• Organism selectivity/differentiation details: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and validate with control strains.