APT Agar - BioReagent

Cat. No.: A1528490

GRAU & PUREZA BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Visão geral

For isolation and cultivation of lactic acid bacteria

Especificações

Especificações e pureza

BioReagent

Condições de armazenamento de armazenamento

Room temperature

Enviado em

Normal

Grau

BioReagent

Product Line

Produtos biológicos

Application Protocols

No manufacturer-specific protocols are provided in the Product Data. The following are general, literature-based workflows; adapt to your SOP and organism requirements.

• Plate preparation (general):

  1. Weigh the manufacturer-recommended amount of dehydrated APT Agar per liter (follow the product label or CoA; do not substitute values).
  2. Add to purified water with stirring. Heat to dissolve; bring to a gentle boil until clear.
  3. Autoclave at 121 °C for ~15 min. Allow to cool to 45–50 °C. If using supplements (e.g., antibiotics, carbohydrates, indicators), sterile-filter them and add aseptically at this step.
  4. Pour ~18–20 mL per 90-mm plate. Let solidify; dry plates (if needed) in a laminar flow hood to remove surface moisture.
  5. Store plates inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed bags/containers to prevent desiccation. Label with prep date and lot.

• Inoculation and incubation (typical for lactic acid bacteria):

  • Streak for isolation or spread known volumes for enumeration. Incubate at 30–37 °C for 24–72 h under microaerophilic, 5–10% CO2, or anaerobic conditions as appropriate.

• Quality controls:

  • Perform growth promotion testing (GPT) with representative strains (e.g., Lactobacillus spp.) and an inhibition test organism as per your SOP.

These directions are general guidance only and are not item-specific specifications.

Biological Roles

APT Agar functions as a nutritionally rich, non-selective-to-moderately-selective medium tailored for the cultivation of lactic acid bacteria (literature). Its components collectively support microbial biosynthesis and energy metabolism:

• Carbon and energy: Dextrose (glucose) fuels glycolysis and, in lactic acid bacteria, drives homo-/heterofermentative pathways yielding lactic acid and, in some species, CO2 and ethanol/acetate.
• Nitrogen and growth factors: Peptones/tryptone supply amino acids and small peptides; yeast extract contributes vitamins (e.g., B-complex), nucleotides, and trace lipids required by fastidious organisms.
• Lipid supplementation: Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) provides oleate that can improve membrane integrity and growth rates for certain Lactobacillus spp.
• Ions and buffering: Phosphate and citrate help stabilize pH as acid is produced, while Mg2+ and Mn2+ serve as essential cofactors for enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism and DNA replication/repair in lactic acid bacteria.
• Solid support: Agar forms a biologically inert gel permitting colony isolation, morphology assessment, and quantitative plating.

Because lactic acid bacteria are acidogenic, medium buffering capacity and initial pH are important to maintain viability and colony size during incubation. APT formulations are broadly permissive, allowing recovery from diverse sample matrices (food, beverage, probiotic preparations) while remaining suitable as a base for further supplementation or selective modifications (literature/general).

Buffer Applications

This product is not designed as a buffer system. APT Agar is a complex nutrient medium in which buffering is provided incidentally (typically by phosphate and/or citrate salts; literature) to mitigate acidification during bacterial growth. For dedicated pH-buffered solutions or electrophoresis buffers, select defined buffer reagents (e.g., phosphate, MOPS, HEPES) formulated for that purpose. If studies require tighter pH control, consider using the corresponding APT Broth with controlled buffer additions and continuous pH monitoring.

Green Alternatives

While APT Agar itself is a culture medium rather than a hazardous solvent, sustainability considerations can still be applied to its use. The points below are general, literature-based best practices.

• Resource footprint:
  • Agar is a renewable, seaweed-derived polysaccharide; sourcing from responsibly managed aquaculture supports sustainability.
  • The primary environmental burden arises from autoclaving energy and single-use plastics (plates, tubes).
• Greener practices:
  • Optimize batch sizes to minimize over-preparation and waste of plates.
  • Consolidate autoclave cycles at full loads; use gravity vs. pre-vac appropriately and select energy-efficient sterilizers.
  • Consider reusable glassware where contamination risk and SOPs permit.
  • Use stackable plate formats and pour only the volume needed (e.g., 18–20 mL per 90-mm plate) to reduce agar consumption (literature/general guidance).
  • Implement validated lower-temperature storage and first-expire-first-out (FEFO) inventory to minimize discard rates.
• Alternative gelling agents:
  • For specialized applications, gellan gum or plant-derived gels can reduce batch-to-batch variability, but growth performance for lactic acid bacteria must be verified (trade-offs in texture, mineral interactions; literature).
• Waste management:
  • Autoclave contaminated plates before disposal; segregate plastics and cardboard for recycling where allowed. Neutralize spilled hot media with absorbent and dispose per institutional guidelines.

These practices can reduce environmental impact without compromising culture quality.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic use is implied. For research use only.

• Context (non-clinical): APT Agar may be employed in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or food-industry quality control laboratories as a general-purpose medium for non-clinical testing of lactic acid bacteria (e.g., growth promotion testing, environmental monitoring isolates, probiotic raw material assessment), subject to each lab’s validated methods (literature/general).
• Compliance: This listing does not claim compliance with any pharmacopeial monograph. For regulated testing, confirm method suitability and growth promotion performance with your specific strains and follow GMP/GLP documentation practices.
• Formulation/excipient relevance: Agar itself is used as a gelling/thickening excipient in some non-sterile formulations, but this product is a blended microbiological medium and is not intended for incorporation into drug products.

Physical Properties

Item-specific physicochemical specifications are not provided for this product. The following are general, literature-based characteristics of dehydrated APT Agar media; they are not product specifications.

• Appearance (dehydrated): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Typically a free-flowing tan to beige powder (literature).
• Solubility: Water-soluble upon heating; agar requires boiling to fully dissolve (literature).
• Gelation/melting (agar matrix, literature):
  • Gelation temperature typically ~32–40 °C after cooling from a boil.
  • Melting temperature typically ~85–95 °C. These values depend on agar concentration and ionic strength.
• Typical working concentration (literature): Formulated media commonly used at approximately 2–4% (w/v) total solids, with agar ~1.5% (w/v). Exact charge/load per liter varies by manufacturer and is not specified for this item.
• pH (prepared medium, literature): Many APT formulations target pH near 6.7–6.9 at 25 °C prior to sterilization; autoclaving may shift pH slightly. Not specified for this item; verify with CoA.
• Density/bulk density (powder), refractive index, logP, pKa: Not applicable or not typically defined for complex media; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Stability (general): Stable as a dry blend under ambient, dry conditions; hydrated gels are microbiologically perishable and should be refrigerated and used promptly (literature).

Quality and Grades

• Item grade: BioReagent (as provided). This denotes suitability for laboratory biological research applications, emphasizing consistency in nutrient performance and low bioburden in the dehydrated state. It is not a sterility claim—media must be sterilized before use.
• What BioReagent typically implies (general):
  • Controlled raw materials (peptones, yeast extract, agar, salts) and blending for lot-to-lot growth performance.
  • Low levels of inhibitory impurities that could suppress fastidious organisms in culture (literature/general).
  • Trace component control adequate for research; not necessarily produced under pharmacopeial or clinical media standards unless explicitly stated.
• Item-specific notes:
  • Purity/specifications such as moisture content, pH of a prepared lot, or microbial limits are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Stabilizers/preservatives: None typically added to dehydrated media beyond inherent components; Not specified for this item.
• Suitability: Appropriate for research use in culturing and enumerating lactic acid bacteria and related organisms where APT formulations are indicated (literature). For regulated applications (QC, validation), verify conformity to your method-specific media requirements via the supplied CoA and perform in-house growth promotion testing (GPT).

Reaction and Applications

This product is used for microbiological cultivation rather than chemical reactions. The following summarize typical laboratory applications (literature-based, not item-specific specifications):

• Intended use: Cultivation, enumeration, and maintenance of lactic acid bacteria and related organisms, including Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Pediococcus spp. APT (All-Purpose Tween) formulations support fastidious heterofermentative species.
• Rationale for components (literature):
  • Peptones/tryptone + yeast extract provide peptides, amino acids, vitamins (notably B-group), nucleotides.
  • Dextrose is a fermentable carbon/energy source.
  • Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) supplies oleic acid and enhances growth of lactobacilli.
  • Citrate/phosphate provide buffering and chelation; Mg2+/Mn2+ are essential enzyme cofactors for lactic acid bacteria.
  • Agar forms a firm gel suitable for colony isolation and enumeration.
• Use cases:
  • Isolation from foods, beverages (e.g., beer, dairy), probiotics, and fermentation samples.
  • Growth promotion testing (GPT) of lactic acid bacteria in QA/QC settings.
  • Base medium for differential studies by adding carbohydrates, indicators, or selective agents.
• Practical tips:
  • De-aeration and higher CO2 (e.g., 5–10% CO2) or anaerobiosis may enhance recovery of microaerophilic strains.
  • Incubate typically 30–37 °C for 24–72 h depending on organism and inoculum (literature). Validate conditions for your strains.

All applications are for laboratory research or non-clinical quality control use only.

Reaction Conditions

Not applicable to chemical reactions. For microbiological use (literature-based guidance):

• Preparation environment: Aseptic technique; clean workspace or biosafety cabinet as appropriate for the organism’s biosafety level.
• Hydration and dissolution: Suspend the manufacturer-recommended mass of dehydrated APT Agar in purified water. Heat with agitation to dissolve; bring to a brief boil to clarify.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for ~15 minutes (15 psi). Do not over-sterilize to avoid nutrient degradation. Allow to cool to 45–50 °C before pouring.
• Incubation conditions for lactic acid bacteria: 30–37 °C, aerobic with increased CO2 (e.g., 5–10%) or anaerobic/microaerophilic depending on species; 24–72 hours typical. Exact conditions should be validated per organism and method.

These are general literature conditions and not product specifications; consult your SOP and verify with representative strains.

Safety and Handling

• GHS classification, signal word, pictograms, H-statements: Not specified for this item; consult the SDS for authoritative hazard information.
• General hazards (literature/general):
  • Dehydrated powder can create nuisance dust; avoid inhalation and contact with eyes. May cause mechanical irritation.
  • Not intrinsically hazardous, but becomes biologically hazardous after inoculation. Treat used plates and broths as biohazardous waste.
• PPE: Laboratory coat, gloves, and eye protection recommended. Use dust control (fume hood or dust mask/respirator as appropriate) when handling large quantities of dry powder.
• Handling: Avoid moisture uptake; reseal promptly. When preparing medium, heat to dissolve; avoid boiling over. Exercise caution with hot glassware and media.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C (15 psi) for ~15 minutes unless otherwise directed by your SOP. Do not autoclave media containing heat-labile supplements; sterile-filter such additives and add aseptically after cooling to ~45–50 °C.
• Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers may degrade organic components; moisture can cause caking. Avoid contamination during preparation and pouring.
• First aid (overview): If inhaled (powder), move to fresh air. In case of eye contact, rinse with water for several minutes. If skin contact occurs, wash with soap and water. If ingested, rinse mouth with water. Seek medical advice as needed. Always follow your institution’s EHS guidance and the product SDS.

Solvent Selection

Not a solvent application. APT Agar is a dehydrated microbiological medium intended for aqueous preparation.

• Primary diluent: Purified/deionized water is used to hydrate and dissolve the medium. Heat to ensure complete agar dissolution.
• Practical guidance (literature/general):
  • Use freshly produced Type I/II water; avoid high chlorine, heavy metals, or organic contaminants that can inhibit microbial growth.
  • Gentle boiling promotes agar dissolution; avoid prolonged high heat before autoclaving to minimize Maillard reactions and caramelization.
  • After autoclaving, cool to ~45–50 °C before pouring plates to prevent condensation and to preserve heat-sensitive supplements added aseptically.
• Alternatives: If a softer gel is required (e.g., motility or overlay), reduce agar concentration; for broths, use the corresponding APT Broth (no agar). If selective pressure is needed, aseptically add antibiotics or dyes as specified in your method.

For chemical solvent choices in synthesis, this section is not applicable; refer instead to the Application Protocols and Reaction & Applications tabs for microbiological use.

Storage and Reconstitution

• Storage (as supplied): Room temperature (per Product Data). Keep tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from humidity and direct sunlight. Store in the original container to maintain lot traceability.
• Shipping: Normal (per Product Data).
• Shelf life: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and product label.
• Reconstitution/preparation: Hydrate in purified water and sterilize by autoclaving before use. For heat-labile supplements, sterile-filter and add after cooling the medium to ~45–50 °C (literature/general guidance).
• Prepared medium storage (literature/general):
  • Plates: Store inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed bags/containers to prevent drying. Use on a FEFO basis; many labs target use within 2–4 weeks, subject to GPT and visual QC.
  • Broth (if prepared without agar): Store at 2–8 °C and use promptly; avoid repeated reheating.
• Freeze–thaw: Do not freeze prepared agar plates; freezing disrupts the gel matrix. Do not freeze the dehydrated powder as moisture condensation may occur on thawing.
• Handling after inoculation: Treat as biohazard. Seal and autoclave used plates before disposal according to institutional biosafety procedures.

Research use only.

Structure and Identity

APT Agar is a dehydrated, complex microbiological growth medium (not a single defined chemical). As such, conventional single-compound identifiers do not apply.

• Chemical class: Complex culture medium (dehydrated powder) containing peptones/tryptone, yeast extract, carbohydrates, salts, emulsifier (Tween/Polysorbate), and agar as a gelling agent (composition varies by manufacturer; literature-based description).
• Molecular formula: Not applicable for a multi-component mixture.
• Molecular weight: Not applicable for a multi-component mixture.
• SMILES / InChI / InChIKey: Not applicable for a multi-component mixture.
• CAS: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• CID: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Structural features (literature/general):
  • Contains agar, a sulfated galactan polysaccharide that forms a thermoreversible gel.
  • Includes organic nitrogen sources (e.g., casein/soy digests, yeast extract) providing amino acids, peptides, vitamins, and growth factors.
  • Typically includes dextrose (glucose) as a fermentable carbohydrate and Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) as a source of long-chain fatty acids beneficial for lactic acid bacteria.
  • Mineral salts (e.g., phosphate, citrate, Mg2+, Mn2+) furnish buffering and essential cofactors (literature).
• 2D/functional description: The medium is a heterogeneous blend of macromolecular (agar) and small-molecule nutrients; upon hydration and sterilization it yields a firm, translucent nutrient gel suitable for plating and routine cultivation of fastidious, especially lactic acid, bacteria (literature).

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable. APT Agar is not a synthetic building block or reagent; it is a complex microbiological medium intended for microbial cultivation on solid surfaces. For chemical synthesis applications, consult appropriate reagents/solvents rather than culture media.

Target Specificity

This is not an antibody or targeted biochemical. There is no antigen/epitope specificity. In a microbiological sense (literature), APT Agar is broadly supportive of lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus), but it is not exclusively selective; additional selective agents are required when suppression of competing flora is desired.

Perguntas frequentes

How should this product be stored?

Store at room temperature.