M17 Agar
M17 Agar
Selective Solid Medium for Lactic Acid Bacteria
Catalog Number: AS-1280
Overview
M17 Agar is a selective solid culture medium designed for the isolation, cultivation, and enumeration of lactic acid bacteria, particularly Streptococcus thermophilus. Its enriched formulation, containing peptones, lactose, and essential salts, supports reliable bacterial growth and metabolic activity.
The solid agar format enables isolation of pure colonies, allowing assessment of colony morphology, viability, and performance. M17 Agar is widely used in dairy microbiology and fermentation research, especially in yogurt and cheese production and quality control.
Key Features & Benefits
• Optimised for lactic acid bacteria, including Streptococcus thermophilus
• Solid medium allows isolation and enumeration of discrete colonies
• Lactose serves as a fermentable carbohydrate source
• Supports evaluation of starter culture performance and viability
• Commonly used in dairy and food fermentation research
Applications
• Isolation and enumeration of Streptococcus thermophilus
• Quality control testing of dairy fermentation products such as yogurt and cheese
• Research on starter culture performance and stability
• Microbiological analysis in food and dairy science
Principle of the Medium
M17 Agar provides a balanced nutrient environment for lactic acid bacteria. Peptones supply nitrogen, amino acids, and peptides, while lactose serves as the primary fermentable carbohydrate. The solid agar matrix permits separation of individual colonies, facilitating accurate enumeration and morphological examination.
Typical Composition
Peptones – source of amino acids and peptides
Lactose – fermentable carbohydrate source
Essential salts – support metabolic activity and growth
(Exact formulation may vary to meet institutional or published specifications.)
Preparation
Prepare the medium according to standard laboratory procedures or applicable reference methods.
Sterilise as required before use.
Cool to pouring temperature and dispense into sterile Petri dishes.
Storage & Stability
Dehydrated medium: Store at 15–30 °C in a dry, tightly sealed container
Prepared agar: Store at 2–8 °C
Do not use the medium if signs of contamination or degradation are observed
Intended Use
For laboratory research and industrial microbiology use only.
Not for medical, food, or veterinary therapeutic use.
Quality & Compliance
Manufactured under controlled conditions to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.
Suitable for dairy, fermentation, and food microbiology laboratories.
Performance comparable to leading international culture media suppliers.
Customs & Trade Information
HS / AHECC Code: 3821.00.00
Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of microorganisms