Bacteroides Agar - BioReagent

Cat. No.: B1528711

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Vue d’ensemble

For selective isolation of Bacteroides

Specifications

Spécifications et pureté

BioReagent

Conditions de stockage de stockage

Room temperature

Expédié en

Normal

Grade

BioReagent

Product Line

biological_products

Application Protocols

The following is general guidance for preparing and using anaerobic agar media; adjust to your validated SOP and this item’s CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Plate preparation (literature/general):

  1. Weigh the dehydrated medium according to the labeled grams per liter (Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet).
  2. Add to purified water; heat with stirring to dissolve completely. Avoid scorching.
  3. Autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes. Allow pressure to normalize; cool to 45–50 °C.
  4. If required, aseptically add sterile‑filtered supplements (e.g., antibiotics, indicators, reducing agents).
  5. Pour plates in a sterile area; allow to solidify. Dry plates as needed to remove surface moisture.
  6. Pre‑reduce plates by placing in an anaerobic chamber/jar for several hours before use to enhance recovery of strict anaerobes.

• Inoculation and incubation (literature/general):

  • Streak for isolation or spread measured inoculum for enumeration.
  • Incubate promptly in an anaerobic system at 35–37 °C for 24–48 h (or per organism requirements). Minimize oxygen exposure during handling.

• Quality controls (literature/general):

  • Include positive control strains (Bacteroides spp. known to grow) and negative controls (organisms expected to be inhibited) appropriate to the medium’s stated selectivity.
  • Verify plate sterility and pH of representative plates.

Dispose of used media as biohazard waste after autoclaving.

Biological Roles

This product has no intrinsic biological function; rather, it provides a supportive environment for microbial growth (literature/general):

• Nutritional support: Complex peptones supply amino acids and peptides; carbohydrates provide fermentable carbon; minerals and vitamins support biosynthesis and energy metabolism of Bacteroides and other anaerobes.
• Redox environment: For strict anaerobes, low redox potential is critical. Bacteroides Agar is typically used within an anaerobic system (jar, chamber) and may be paired with reducing agents to maintain anoxic conditions (formulation‑dependent; not specified for this item).
• Selectivity/differentiation: Some Bacteroides‑oriented media incorporate bile salts, esculin, or antibiotics to select for Bacteroides and differentiate hydrolysis phenotypes (e.g., esculin hydrolysis—literature/general). Specific selectivity for this SKU is Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Research contexts:
  • Microbiome studies: isolation of Bacteroides from gut or environmental consortia.
  • Anaerobe physiology: growth kinetics, substrate utilization, and stress response under controlled anaerobic conditions.
  • Industrial/bioprocess QC: monitoring for presence/absence or enumeration of anaerobic contaminants in research settings.

Buffer Applications

While this is a solid culture medium rather than a discrete buffering agent, prepared media typically include buffering capacity to maintain near‑neutral pH during microbial growth (literature/general):

• Common buffering systems used in culture media (general): phosphate (e.g., KH2PO4/K2HPO4), bicarbonate/CO2, or organic buffers depending on formulation and incubation atmosphere.
• Practical guidance:
  • Verify pH of the prepared medium at room temperature; adjust only if your validated SOP permits and specifies the target pH for the formulation.
  • For CO2‑dependent buffering (bicarbonate), equilibrate plates/broth in the target atmosphere prior to inoculation.
• Not a standalone buffer: This product is not intended for direct buffer preparation outside of its role as a complete medium. If a defined buffer is required for biochemical assays, select a dedicated buffer system (e.g., phosphate, HEPES) instead.

Item‑specific buffer composition and target pH: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Green Alternatives

While culture media are not traditional solvents or reagents amenable to “green replacement,” laboratory sustainability can be improved around media preparation and use (literature/general best practices):

• Resource efficiency:
  • Prepare only the volumes needed to reduce autoclave energy/water consumption and media waste.
  • Use stackable bottleware and plate pouring aids to minimize heat‑loss and cycle times.
• Process improvements:
  • Consider pre‑poured plates when life‑cycle analysis shows reduced in‑house energy/waste (tradeoff: shorter shelf life, packaging impact).
  • Consolidate autoclave loads and use liquid cycles optimized for media (validated) to prevent over‑processing.
• Materials:
  • Choose reusable glassware instead of single‑use plastics where sterility needs allow.
  • Evaluate biodegradable plate sleeves and recycled corrugate for storage/transport.

Simple comparison (literature/general):

• In‑house prep: +Control over formulation/freshness; +Reduced packaging; −Higher energy/water use per small batch; −Labor intensive.
• Ready‑to‑use plates: +Time savings; +Consistent QC; −Packaging waste; −Cold‑chain or shorter shelf life.

Select the approach that best fits your facility’s sustainability metrics without compromising anaerobe recovery and data quality.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic or clinical use is intended or permitted. For research use only.

Relevant non‑clinical/industrial roles (literature/general):

• Microbiology quality control in research and process development labs (e.g., growth promotion testing of anaerobes, environmental monitoring studies for anaerobic burden in facilities where applicable to research).
• Method development/validation for anaerobic culture techniques used in non‑GxP settings.
• Training and proficiency testing materials for anaerobic cultivation workflows.

Compliance note: If a pharmacopeial test requires a defined or specific medium, verify that this product’s formulation and lot meet the required performance criteria via the CoA and in‑house validation. This SKU is not claimed to comply with USP/EP unless explicitly stated on the CoA/Spec Sheet.

Physical Properties

Item‑specific physicochemical constants are not applicable to complex agar media. Where helpful, general literature characteristics for dehydrated microbiological agars are provided for context only.

• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. (Typically a free‑flowing, beige to tan powder—literature/general.)
• Solubility: Forms a colloidal solution/dispersion in water upon heating; insoluble in most organic solvents (literature/general).
• Gelation: Agar typically gels upon cooling at ~35–40 °C after dissolution >80–90 °C (literature/general). Exact gel strength depends on formulation; Not specified for this item.
• pH (prepared medium): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. (Many Bacteroides media are adjusted near neutral pH—literature/general.)
• Density, refractive index, logP, pKa: Not applicable for a complex mixture; Not specified for this item.
• Preparation temperature: Dissolution commonly achieved by bringing to near‑boil with agitation; sterilize by autoclaving (121 °C, 15 min—literature/general). Follow item‑specific directions on label/CoA.
• Osmolality/ionic strength: Determined by formulation; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Note: Do not treat the above as product specifications. Where exact values are required, consult the Certificate of Analysis and product Specification Sheet.

Quality and Grades

• Grade: BioReagent
  • Meaning: Suitable for general laboratory biological applications, including preparation of microbiological media and routine culture work. Emphasis on low levels of inhibitory contaminants and consistent performance between lots (general definition of BioReagent grade).
• Item‑specific assurances: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet for microbial performance criteria (e.g., growth/selectivity controls), moisture content, and any additive/stabilizer information.
• Performance considerations (literature/general for Bacteroides media):
  • Lot‑to‑lot consistency in nutrient profile and selective agents is critical for reliable recovery and differentiation of target anaerobes.
  • Gel strength and clarity of set agar affect colony morphology assessment; verify per in‑house QC.
• Recommended QC tests (user side):
  • Growth promotion testing with representative Bacteroides strains and inhibition of off‑target aerobes/enterics as appropriate to the formulation.
  • pH verification of prepared medium at room temperature.
  • Sterility test of uninoculated controls.
• UV cutoff, metal limits, or impurity ppm: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Note: Where pharmacopeial compliance is required (e.g., USP/EP culture media tests), verify suitability of the specific lot via CoA and in‑house validation.

Reaction and Applications

As a microbiological culture medium, Bacteroides Agar is not used as a reagent in chemical synthesis. Its primary applications are in anaerobic microbiology (literature/general):

• Isolation and cultivation of Bacteroides spp. and related obligate anaerobes from environmental, industrial, or research samples.
• Enumeration studies (CFU counts) under anaerobic conditions for process monitoring and basic research.
• Selective/differential recovery when combined with appropriate inhibitors or indicators (formulation‑dependent; not specified for this item—consult CoA/Spec Sheet).
• Antibiotic susceptibility screening or phenotypic characterization of anaerobes when supplemented per method.

Practical tips (literature/general):

• Pre‑reduce media by storing poured plates in an anaerobic chamber or jar prior to inoculation to enhance recovery of strict anaerobes.
• Maintain low redox potential: include reducing agents or use anaerobic gas mixes during preparation as required by your SOP.
• Avoid oxygen exposure during handling: minimize plate opening time, use prereduced broths for inocula, and incubate promptly in anaerobic systems.
• Validate with control strains to confirm selectivity and growth‑promotion for each new lot.

Note: This section expands on typical manufacturer‑stated uses for Bacteroides media in research workflows. For item‑specific selectivity/indicator behavior, refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Reaction Conditions

Chemical reaction conditions are not applicable. For culture conditions (literature/general for Bacteroides and anaerobes):

• Reconstitution: Suspend the dehydrated medium in purified water per label instructions (grams per liter Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet). Heat with stirring to dissolve completely.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes (gravity or liquid cycle as validated). Do not over‑sterilize to avoid nutrient degradation.
• Pouring: Cool to 45–50 °C before pouring plates to minimize condensation and preserve thermolabile supplements.
• Atmosphere: Incubate under anaerobic conditions (e.g., 85% N2 / 10% H2 / 5% CO2 or gas‑pack systems; exact mix per SOP). Pre‑reduce plates when possible.
• Temperature/time: 35–37 °C for 24–48 hours is common for many Bacteroides spp., with extensions as needed (literature/general). Validate for your strains and endpoints.
• Supplements: If antibiotics/indicators are required, sterile‑filter and add aseptically after autoclave when medium has cooled to ~50 °C (literature/general).

These are general microbiological practices provided for context; follow your validated protocol and the item’s CoA/Spec Sheet for specifics.

Safety and Handling

• GHS classification, pictograms, signal word, and H‑statements: Not specified for this item; refer to the product SDS for authoritative hazard information.
• General hazards (literature/general for dehydrated culture media):
  • Low acute toxicity expected; dust may cause mechanical irritation to eyes/respiratory tract.
  • Hygroscopic components may cake in humid air; avoid inhalation of dust and contact with eyes.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Safety glasses, lab coat, and appropriate gloves (e.g., nitrile). Use a dust mask or work in a fume hood/biological safety cabinet when handling powders.
• Handling guidance:
  • Avoid creating dust clouds; weigh gently. Close containers promptly after use.
  • Prepare and dispense molten medium with care to prevent burns; use heat‑resistant gloves.
  • Sterilize by autoclaving according to institutional biosafety procedures. Vent caps loosely during autoclave to prevent container rupture.
• Incompatibilities (general): Strong oxidizers, acids/bases can degrade organic components; avoid contact with moisture during storage to prevent caking.
• Microbiological safety:
  • Prepared plates/tubes will support microbial growth; handle as biohazard according to organism BSL level. Decontaminate spent media by autoclaving.
• First aid (overview): Rinse eyes/skin with water if contacted. If inhaled, move to fresh air. If ingested, rinse mouth with water. Seek medical attention as needed. Always defer to SDS.

Solvent Selection

This product is a dehydrated culture medium intended to be dissolved/gelled in water; organic solvent selection is not typically applicable.

• Primary solvent: Purified water (e.g., ASTM Type I/II or equivalent) for reconstitution and sterilization (literature/general).
• Practical notes:
  • Use freshly prepared, deionized water free from inhibitory residuals (e.g., chlorine, heavy metals). Water quality can strongly affect microbial recovery.
  • Do not substitute organic solvents; they can denature nutrients and prevent gelation.
• If selective supplements or antibiotics are added, dissolve those per their own solvent compatibility (often sterile water or alcohols) and aseptically add to cooled (45–50 °C) sterile base medium (literature/general).

Storage and Reconstitution

• Storage (from Product Data): Store at room temperature. Keep tightly closed in a dry place. Protect from humidity to prevent caking and performance loss.
• Shipping (from Product Data): Shipped under normal conditions.
• Shelf life: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Reconstitution and sterilization (literature/general):

• Reconstitution concentration: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Many microbiological agar media are prepared in the range of 40–60 g/L, but follow the specific label for this SKU.
• Water quality: Use purified/deionized water. Mix thoroughly and heat to fully dissolve; avoid localized overheating.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes (validated program). Do not re‑autoclave prepared medium multiple times; repeated cycles can degrade nutrients and reduce gel strength.
• Post‑autoclave handling: Cool to 45–50 °C before adding heat‑labile supplements. Pour plates in a sterile environment. Allow to set and, if required, pre‑reduce under anaerobic conditions before use.
• Prepared media storage: If plates are stored before use, seal to limit moisture loss and store at 2–8 °C in the dark to preserve performance (literature/general). Duration depends on formulation and packaging; verify with in‑house QC.

Research Use Note: For research use only.

Structure and Identity

This product is a complex, multi‑component dehydrated culture medium formulated to support the growth and isolation of Bacteroides spp. (and related obligate anaerobes). It is not a single, well‑defined molecule.

• Item type: Dehydrated microbiological agar medium (mixture)
• 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: Not applicable (mixture)
• InChIKey: Not applicable (mixture)
• Structural features (description):
  • Contains complex organic nutrients (e.g., peptones/tryptones), carbohydrate(s), mineral salts, and agar as the gelling agent (literature/general for anaerobe agars).
  • May include selective agents and indicators in some Bacteroides‑targeted formulations (literature/general), but the specific composition of this SKU is Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• 2D structure (verbal): Heterogeneous blend of low‑molecular‑weight salts, amino acid/peptide fragments, carbohydrates, and high‑molecular‑weight agar polysaccharides; no singular definable 2D structure applies.

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable. This product is a microbiological culture medium, not a chemical building block or reagent for synthetic transformations.

For workflows that combine microbiology with chemistry (literature/general):

• Biotransformations using anaerobes are typically conducted in liquid broths tailored to the organism and reaction; solid agars are used for isolation, not for chemical synthesis.
• If downstream analytical chemistry is planned (e.g., metabolite profiling), ensure media blanks are included and consider defined media to simplify background.

Target Specificity

Not an antibody, probe, or molecularly targeted reagent. No antigen/epitope specificity applies.

Functional selectivity (literature/general): Depending on formulation, Bacteroides‑oriented agars may selectively support Bacteroides spp. while inhibiting many aerobes and facultative anaerobes. Item‑specific selective agents and performance characteristics are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.