
What ingredients make the EMB media differential? Eosin
Eosin
Eosin is the name of several fluorescent acidic compounds which bind to and form salts with basic, or eosinophilic, compounds like proteins containing amino acid residues such as arginine and lysine, and stains them dark red or pink as a result of the actions of bromine on fluorescein. I…
Is EMB agar selective or differential?
Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar is a both selective and differential culture medium. It is selective culture medium for Gram-negative bacteria (selects against Gram positive bacteria) and is commonly used for the isolation and differentiation of coliforms and fecal coliforms.
Is EMB media selective differential or both?
Eosin methylene blue agar (EMB) is a selective and differential medium used to isolate fecal coliforms. Eosin Y and methylene blue are pH indicator dyes which combine to form a dark purple precipitate at low pH; they also serve to inhibit the growth of most Gram positive organisms. People also ask, is EMB media selective differential or both?
What is EMB agar used for?
Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar : Composition, uses and colony characteristics. It is selective culture medium for gram-negative bacteria (selects against gram positive bacteria) and is commonly used for the isolation and differentiation of coliforms and fecal coliforms. EMB media assists in visual distinction Escherichia coli,...
What is the color of E coli on EMB agar?
Most E. coli colonies have a green sheen, but sometimes they have blue-black bulls eye. On the other hand, lactose non-fermenting microorganisms are characterized by a light lavender color. Sometimes, they are colorless. The eosin methylene blue agar (EMB agar) is a selective staining for gram-negative bacteria.

What makes EMB agar differential?
It is a selective medium due to inhibition of gram-positive bacteria by methylene blue. EMB agar's differential property comes from the eosin and methylene blue complex formation under acidic pH. People who are working on EMB media ask the following questions frequently.
What is the differential ingredient in EMB?
Eosin–Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar is a differential medium for the detection of Gram negative enteric bacteria. The medium contains peptone, lactose, sucrose, dipotassium phosphate, eosin and methylene blue dyes.
What ingredients cause EMB to selective?
The selective/ inhibitory agents of EMB are the dyes eosin Y and methylene blue. Methylene blue inhibits the gram + bacteria (eosin to a lesser extent), while eosin changes color, to a dark purple, when the medium around the colony becomes acidic.
What is the differential agent in EMB medium?
EMB (Differential agent) Methylene blue. lactose.
Is EMB agar selective or differential?
EMB agar contains peptone, lactose, sucrose, and the dyes eosin Y and methylene blue; it is commonly used as both a selective and a differential medium. EMB agar is selective for gram-negative bacteria.
How EMB media differentiate bacteria?
Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar is a differential microbiological medium, which slightly inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and provides a color indicator distinguishing between organisms that ferment lactose (e.g., E. coli) and those that do not (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella).
How do you differentiate between lactose fermenter and non lactose fermenter on EMB?
Organisms that are slow lactose-fermenters, produce less acid, and the colonies appear brown-pink. Non-lactose fermenters, increase the pH of the medium by deamination of proteins and produce colorless or light pink colonies.
Is EMB selective or differential quizlet?
-Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar is a complex (chemically undefined), moderately selective, and differential medium. -Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar are selective for Gram-negative organisms and contain indicators to differentiate lactose fermenters from lactose non-fermenters.
What is EMB Agar ?
An EMB agar stands for eosin methylene blue agar; which is both a differential and selective culture medium.
The history of EMB agar
The EMB agar was first developed in 1916 by Holt-Harris and Teague. The agar was used to differentiate between lactose fermenting colonies and non-fermenting microbes.
EMB Agar Procedure
You should suspend the agar in a 1000 ml distilled water. Make sure you mix it well in order to achieve a uniform suspension.
Interpretation (Results)
Two dyes are combined: the eosin Y and methylene blue; they inhibit gram positive bacteria but on the other hand, allow the growth of gram-negative microorganisms.
