Mycosel Agar
Mycosel Agar
Selective Medium for Pathogenic and Dimorphic Fungi
Overview
Mycosel Agar is the trademarked selective medium used for the isolation of pathogenic and dimorphic fungi from heavily contaminated clinical and environmental specimens. It is designed for recovery of dermatophytes and systemic fungi such as Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides spp., and Sporothrix schenckii from samples including skin, hair, nails, sputum, tissue, and soil.
Mycosel Agar is identical in purpose and nearly identical in composition to the classic Mycobiotic Agar and is widely regarded as a standard medium in clinical and medical mycology laboratories worldwide.
Applications
• Primary isolation of dermatophytes from skin, hair, and nail specimens
• Isolation of systemic dimorphic fungi from respiratory specimens and tissue
• Routine use in medical and clinical mycology laboratories
• Reference medium in many clinical mycology manuals and protocols
Key Features & Benefits
• Cycloheximine inhibits rapidly growing saprophytic moulds
• Chloramphenicol suppresses bacterial contamination
• Slightly acidic pH favours dermatophytes and pathogenic fungi
• Transparent agar base allows easy recognition of colony morphology and pigment
• Highly selective for pathogenic fungi from heavily contaminated specimens
Principle of the Medium
Mycosel Agar combines antifungal and antibacterial agents to selectively recover pathogenic fungi. Cycloheximine inhibits many saprophytic moulds such as Aspergillus, Mucor, and Penicillium, while chloramphenicol suppresses bacterial growth. The slightly acidic pH further favours dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi, enabling their isolation from specimens containing abundant background flora.
Typical Composition (per litre)
Papaic Digest of Soybean Meal – 10.0 g
Dextrose – 10.0 g
Cycloheximine – 0.5 g
Chloramphenicol – 0.05 g
Agar – 15.5 g
Final pH: 6.9 ± 0.2 at 25 °C
(Composition based on BD/Remel Mycosel Agar; may vary slightly from original Mycobiotic Agar.)
Preparation
Suspend 36.05 g of dehydrated medium in 1 L of purified water.
Heat with frequent agitation and boil for 1 minute to dissolve completely.
Sterilise by autoclaving at 118 °C for 15 minutes.
Do not autoclave at 121 °C, as cycloheximine may degrade.
Cool to 45–50 °C, mix well, and pour plates.
Incubation
Incubate aerobically at 25–30 °C for up to 4 weeks.
Dermatophytes are typically visible within 7–21 days.
Typical Colony Appearance
Trichophyton spp.: powdery or velvety colonies, white surface with red or pink reverse
Microsporum spp.: cottony colonies, yellow to tan pigmentation
Histoplasma capsulatum: slow-growing, white to brown, tuberculate colonies
Blastomyces dermatitidis: slow-growing, creamy to brown, warty colonies
Candida albicans: inhibited or very small creamy colonies
Saprophytic moulds and bacteria: completely or almost completely inhibited
Storage & Stability
Prepared plates: Store at 2–8 °C, protected from light
Use within 4 weeks for optimal performance
Intended Use
For medical and clinical mycology use only.
Not for human or veterinary therapeutic use.
For laboratory handling of Risk Group 2 and 3 organisms only by trained personnel.
Quality & Compliance
Manufactured under controlled conditions to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.
Widely accepted standard medium in clinical mycology laboratories.
Commercial equivalent of the original Mycobiotic Agar formulation.
Customs & Trade Information
HS / AHECC Code: 3821.00.00
Prepared culture media for the development or maintenance of microorganisms