Complete question: Analyzing Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA): An MSA plate was inoculated with an unknown Staphylococcus species. What can you conclude about this unknown organism?
A. It can ferment mannitol.
B. It produces acid during fermentation, leading to a lower pH in the medium.
C. It can tolerate higher salt concentrations.
D. It could be S. aureus.
E. All the above
Answer: The correct option is E ( all of the above)
Step-by-step explanation:
Culture medium is a growth medium that is used in microbiology which permits the growth of microorganisms. It can be in a gel or liquid form. There are different types of culture medium which includes:
--> Differential medium
--> Selective medium
--> Enriched medium
Mannitol Salt Agar( MSA) is a type of selective culture media that is used in microbiology for the identification and isolation of staphylococcus species from biological samples. A typical MSA includes essential growth factors and trace nutrients such as nitrogen, vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for growth. The medium contains sodium chloride( salt) with mannitol which is the fermentable carbohydrate source
Staphylococcus aureus organisms are capable of fermenting mannitol, produces acid during fermentation leading to a lower pH in the medium, and can tolerate higher salt concentrations. Therefore the unknown organism is POSITIVE to mannitol salt agar analysis. Thanks and I hope it helps!