Question

Q1 ) Nutrient broth is referred to as a general purpose medium. Explain what is meant by this statement. When considering your answer, you may wish to consider what substance nutrient broth is prepared from in addition to the further information about microbiological growth media on pg. 45 of the practical manual. ( 1 mark)

page 45 => Bacterial growth media – nutrient broth The medium used in this practical session to study the growth of bacteria is a liquid medium termed nutrient broth (NB). It is a general-purpose meat-based medium used for routine culture of many bacteria that do not have special growth requirements. Nutrient medium of various kinds is available commercially (from companies such as Oxoid and Difco) as a desiccated product (i.e. a powder). To prepare nutrient broth, water is added to an appropriate quantity of the powder and the dissolved product is dispensed in the required quantities (e.g. as 10 ml broths). It is then sterilised by autoclaving (steam under pressure for an appropriate time) to kill all contaminating life-forms. Once sterile, it can be stored at room temperature until required.

Answer 1

NUTRIENT BROTH media a general purpose medium used for cultivating a wide variety of microorganisms. Peptic digest of animal tissue, B. extract and Yeast extract provide the necessary nitrogen compounds, carbon, vitamins and also some trace ingredients necessary for the growth of bacteria. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium of the medium. Nutrient Broth can be used for the cultivation and enumeration of bacteria which are not particularly fastidious. Addition of different biological fluids such as horse or sheep blood, serum, egg yolk, etc. makes it suitable for the cultivation of related fastidious organisms.

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