Charcoal-free culture media for legionella
AssigneeSecretary of State for Health and Social Care
InventorsVictoria Jane Chalker, Owen Brad Spiller, Edward Portal
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Abstract
The present invention provides in vitro methods for culturing Legionella, comprising incubating a Legionella bacterium on a charcoal-free solid agar medium comprising: serum, wherein the serum is present at a concentration of 1%-35% (v/v); a nitrogen source; and an iron source. Charcoal-free solid agar media for use in methods of the invention are also provided.
Claims20
An in vitro method for culturing a Legionella bacterium, comprising incubating a Legionella bacterium on a charcoal-free solid agar medium comprising:
- a) serum, wherein the serum is present at a concentration of 1%-35% (v/v);
- b) a nitrogen source;
- and
- c) an iron source.
A screening method for identifying an antibiotic suitable for suppressing the growth of a Legionella bacterium, comprising:
- a. contacting a Legionella bacterium with a charcoal-free solid agar medium to provide a test sample, wherein the charcoal-free solid agar medium comprises:
- i. serum, wherein the serum is present at a concentration of 1%-35% (v/v);
- ii. a nitrogen source;
- and
- iii. an iron source;
- b. incubating the test sample in the presence of a candidate antibiotic;
- and
- c. identifying said candidate antibiotic as suitable for suppressing the growth of the Legionella bacterium when the bacterial load of said Legionella bacterium in the test sample subsequent to incubation is lower than a bacterial load of said Legionella bacterium in a control sample, wherein the control sample is incubated in the absence of said candidate antibiotic;
- or
- d. identifying said candidate antibiotic as unsuitable for suppressing the growth of the Legionella bacterium when the bacterial load of said Legionella bacterium in the test sample subsequent to incubation is the same as or greater than the bacterial load of said Legionella bacterium in a control sample, wherein the control sample is incubated in the absence of said candidate antibiotic.
A kit comprising a charcoal-free solid agar medium for culturing a Legionella bacterium, and/or reagents for preparing a charcoal-free solid agar medium for culturing the Legionella bacterium, wherein:
- a. said charcoal-free solid agar medium comprises:
- i. serum, wherein the serum is present at a concentration of 1%-35% (v/v);
- ii. a nitrogen source;
- and
- iii. an iron source;
- and/or
- b. said reagents comprise:
- i. agar;
- ii. serum;
- iii. a nitrogen source;
- and
- iv. an iron source;
- and
- wherein said kit further comprises instructions for culturing the Legionella bacterium on said charcoal-free solid agar medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.