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Biochemical Tests: Enterobacteriaceae
Biochemical Tests: Enterobacteriaceae
Biochemical Tests: Enterobacteriaceae
Enterobacteriaceae
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 1
Tests To Know
Common Study Tests
Indole
Methyl Red/Voges Proskauer
Citrate
H2S production in SIM
Urea hydrolysis
Motility
Lactose fermentation
Sucrose fermentation
Glucose fermentation & gas production
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 2
Initial Grouping of the Enterobacteriaceae
(VP=Voges Proskauer,
PDA=Phenylalanine Deaminase)
GENERA VP PDA
Klebsiella POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Enterobacter POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Serratia POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Hafnia POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Pantoea POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 3
Initial Grouping of the
Enterobacteriaceae
GENERA VP PDA
1
VP negative, PDA negative
2
Salmonella serotype Paratyphi A and Typhi
negative
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 7
Key Characteristics of the
Enterobacteriaceae
TSI ON GAS H2S VP IND CIT PDA UR MO LYS OR AR
/
E
coli
A/A
+ + + + + +/
+
/
+
Shi Ak/
A- A
C
+
Shi Ak/
D A +
+ + +
Ed Ak/
A + + +
Sal Ak/ +/
A + + + + + +
/
+ +
Cit A/A +/ +/
Ak/ + + + +
A
Yer A/A
+ +/
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
+/
RT
(1) + 8
(1) RT=room temperature
Key Characteristics of the
Enterobacteriaceae
TSI ON GAS H2S VP IND CIT PDA UR MO LYS OR AR
Kle A/A
pne + + + + + +
Kle A/A
oxy + + + + + + +
En A/A
aer + + + + + + +
En A/A +/
cloa + + + + + + +
Serr A/A
(1) + + + + + + +
Haf Ak/
A + + + + + +
Pan A/A
+ /+ +/ /+ +/ /+ /+
Alk/
A
(1) Produces DNase, lipase, and gelatinase
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 9
Key Characteristics of the
Enterobacteriaceae
TSI ON GAS H2S VP IND CIT PDA UR MO LYS OR AR
+ + + + +s +
Prot Ak/ +/ +/
mir A
a
+/ + + /+ + + +s
Prot A/A
vulg
+ + + + + +
Mor Ak/
A
+ + + + +
Pro Ak/
v A
s = swarming motility
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 10
Biochemical Characteristics of
Escherichia coli and Shigella
E. coli E. coli O157:H7 Shigella
TSI A/Ag A/Ag Alk/A
Lactose + + –
ONPG + + –/+1
Sorbitol + – +/–
Indole + + +/–
Methyl re + + +
VP – – –
Citrate – – –
Lysine + + –
Motility + +
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
– 11
Biochemical Characteristics of
Salmonella
Most Serotypes Typhi Paratyphi A
TSI Alk/A Alk/A Alk/A
H2S (TSI) + + (weak) –
Citrate + – –
Lysine + + –
Ornithine + – +
Dulcitol + – +
Rhamnose + – +
Indole – – –
Methyl red + + +
VP – – –
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 12
IMViC Reactions
I = Indole production from tryptophan
M = methyl red test in which acidification of
glucose broth (pH<4.4) due to formation of
mixed carboxylic acids (lactic, acetic, formic)
from pyruvate results in pH indicator methyl
red turning red
Vi = positive Voges-Proskauer test due to
formation of acetoin from pyruvate in glucose
broth
C = ability to utilize citrate as single carbon
source
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 13
Indole Reaction
Enterobacteriaceae that possess
tryptophanase can utilize tryptophan by
deamination and hydrolytic removal of the
indole side chain.
Free indole is detected by p-dimethylamino-
benzaldehyde, whose aldehyde group reacts
with indole forming a red-colored complex.
Production of indole from tryptophan is an
important biochemical property of Escherichia
coli, many strains of group A, B, and C
Shigella, Edwardsiella tarda, Klebsiella
oxytoca, and Proteus vulgaris.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 14
Indole Test
How to Perform Test: Inoculate Tryptone broth with
inoculating loop.
Property it tests for: This test is performed to help
differentiate species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. It tests
for the bacteria species’ ability to produce indole. Bacteria use
an enzyme, tryptophanase to break down the amino
acid, tryptophan, which makes by-products, of which, indole is
one.
Media and Reagents Used: Tryptone broth contains
tryptophan. Kovac’s reagent—contains hydrochloric
acid, dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, and amyl alcohol—yellow in
color.
Reading Results: Kovac’sDr.T.V.Rao
reagent MD
reacts with indole and 15
creates a red color at the top part of the test tube.
Reading the Result
Indole
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 16
Methyl Red/Voges Proskauer
(MR/VP)
How to Perform Tests: Inoculate 2 glucose broths with
inoculating loop. After 48 hours of incubation, add a few drops of
MR to one tube, and VP reagents to the other tube.
Properties they test for: Both tests are used to help
differentiate species of the family Enterobacteriaceae.
MR—tests for acid end products from glucose fermentation.
VP—tests for acetoin production from glucose fermentation.
Media and Reagents Used:
Glucose Broth
Methyl Red indicator for acid
Voges Proskauer reagents—A: 5% Alpha-Naphthol, & ethanol, B:
Potassium Hydroxide, & Deionized
Dr.T.V.RaoWater.
MD 17
Voges-Proskauer Reaction
Acetoin and butylene glycol are
detected by oxidation to diacteyl at an
alkaline pH, and the addition of -
naphthol which forms a red-colored
complex with diacetyl.
The production of acetoin and butylene
glycol by glucose fermentation is an
important biochemical property used
for the identification of
Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 18
MR/VP continued
Reading Results:
MR— a + result is red (indicating pH below 6) and a – result is yellow
(indicating no acid production)
VP—A + result is red after VP reagents are added (indicating the
presence of acetoin) and a – result is no color change.
Lysine → Cadaverine
Ornithine → Putrescine
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 30
Amino Acid Decarboxylation
Tube Amino Acid Color Interpretation
Base None Yellow Broth acidified1
1 Lysine Purple Positive
2 Ornithine Yellow Negative
3 Arginine Yellow Negative
1Indicates organism is a viable glucose
fermenter, and pH of broth medium
sufficiently acidified to activate decarboxylase
enzymes.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 31
Amino Acid Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation patterns are essential
for the genus identification of
Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia,
and Salmonella.
Decarboxylation patterns are also
essential for the species identification
of Enterobacter aerogenes,
Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis,
and Shigella sonnei.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 32
Amino Acid Decarboxylation
Lys Orn Arg
Klebsiella + – –
Enterobacter +/– + +/–
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 33
Amino Acid
Decarboxylation
Lys Orn Arg
E. aerogenes + + –
E. cloacae – + +
P. Mirabilis – + –
P. vulgaris – – –
Shigella D – + –
Shigella A-C – – _
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 34
H2S-Producing
Enterobacteriaceae
Salmonella
Edwardsiella
Citrobacter
Proteus
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 35
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
In presence of H+ and a sulfur source
(sodium thiosulfate, sulfur-containing
amino acids and proteins) many
Enterobacteriaceae produce the
colorless gas H2S.
For detection of H2S a heavy-metal (iron
or lead) compound is present that
reacts with H2S to form black-colored
ferrous sulfide.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 36
Systems for H2S Detection1
Lead acetate paper
SIM tube (peptonized iron)
Hektoen and SS2 agar (ferric ammonium
citrate)
XLD3 agar (ferric ammonium citrate)
Triple-sugar-iron agar (ferrous sulfate)
1In order of decreasing sensitivity
2Salmonella-Shigella
3Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 37
Bacterial Motility
Many but not all Enterobacteriaceae
demonstrate flagellar motility.
Motility can be measured by use of
<0.4% semisolid (soft) agar or
microscopic examination of drops of
broth containing bacteria and
―hanging‖ from cover slips.
Shigella and Klebsiella are non-
motile, and Yersinia is non-motile at
35oC but motile at 22o-25oC.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 38
Motility Agars
Sulfide-indole-motility (SIM) is a
semisolid motility agar that contains
peptonized iron for detection of H2S
and tryptophan for indole production.
Pure motility agar lacks an H2S
indicator and tryptophan for indole
production, and contains tetrazolium
salts that are reduced to red formazan
complexes to enhance visual
assessment of motility.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 39
Additional Biochemical Reactions
for the Enterobacteriaceae1
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 41