MICROBIOLOGICAL GROWTH MEDIA AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME
The present invention features general-purpose microbiological growth media capable of supporting growth of microorganisms on membranes. The media contain casein digest, soybean digest, animal tissue digest, yeast extract, dextrose, a phosphate buffer, hemin, and L-cystine. The invention features an all-purpose microbiological growth media that can support the growth of anaerobes, molds, injured spores, and general aerobic bacteria to a greater extent than other media.
1 - 47 . (canceled)
48 . A method of culturing a population of cells, comprising:
accessing a mixture comprising purified water, casein digest, soybean digest, a phosphate buffer, dextrose, animal tissue digest, yeast extract, hemin, and L-cystine; and
contacting a population of cells with the mixture under conditions supportive of growth of said population of cells.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the mixture further comprises sheep blood.
50 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the mixture does not included added sodium. adding sheep blood to the mixture, wherein the method does not comprises adding sodium to the mixture.
51 . The method of claim 48 , wherein contacting the population of cells with the mixture comprises:
disposing the population of cells on a first side of a permeable membrane; and
contacting the mixture with a second side of the permeable membrane.
52 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the population of cells comprises anaerobes.
53 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the population of cells comprise cells belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Acinetobacter, Aspergillus, Bacillus, Corynebachterium, Dermacoccus. Escherichia, Exserchilum, Kocuria, Methylobacterium , Micro coccus, Paenibacillus, Penicillium, Propionibacterium, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptoc occus , and Streptomyces.
54 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the population of cells comprises cells belonging to the genus Bacillus , and the cells are oxidatively stressed.
55 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising sampling a fluid or a tissue of a multicellular organism to obtain a sample, wherein the population of cells is provided in the sample.
56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the sample is obtained from a respiratory, urogenital, digestive, or reproductive tract, central nervous system, skin, mucus, plasma, serum, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, wound tissue, wound exudate, biopsy, feces, or a solid tissue, or a derivative thereof, of the multicellular organism.
57 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the sample is a blood or urine sample.
58 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the sample is derived from a plant or fungus.
59 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising sampling environmental air, soil, or water, surfaces, objects, or organisms exposed to an environment to obtain a sample, wherein the population of cells is provided in the sample.
60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the sample is obtained from raw, finished, or in-process material in the manufacture of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, blood, or other products for topical or internal use in humans or animals.
61 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the sample is obtained from raw, in-process, or finished material in the manufacture of foods, beverages, or nutritional supplements.
62 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the sample is obtained from raw, in process, or finished material in the manufacture of medical or in vitro diagnostic devices, chemical products, industrial surfaces, instrumentation, or machinery.
63 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the population of cells is provided in a sample, and further comprising treating the sample to perform at least one of liquefying or homogenizing the sample prior to the contacting step.
64 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising treating the sample prior to the contacting step to remove substances or objects other than the population of cells.
65 . The method of claim 64 , wherein treating the sample comprises filtering the sample or performing a sedimentation process on the sample.
66 . The method of claim 48 , wherein contacting the population of cells with the mixture comprises contacting the population of cells with three separate aliquots of the mixture.
67 . The method of claim 66 , wherein the three separate aliquots comprise a first aliquot incubated aerobically at room temperature, a second aliquot incubated aerobically at a first elevated temperature that is higher than room temperature, and a third aliquot incubated anaerobically at a second elevated temperature that is higher than room temperature.