Cystine-tellurite blood agar plates are recommended for isolation of which organism?

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Multiple Choice

Cystine-tellurite blood agar plates are recommended for isolation of which organism?

Explanation:
Cystine-tellurite blood agar is used to selectively isolate Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The tellurite in the medium inhibits many other bacteria, while C. diphtheriae reduces tellurite to elemental tellurium, producing distinctive black colonies (often with a brown halo) that stand out on the plate. This combination of selectivity and a characteristic colony appearance makes this medium particularly suited for identifying diphtherial isolates from clinical samples. Other organisms do not typically form the same dark, tellurite-reducing colonies on this medium, so isolation on CTBA specifically highlights Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Cystine-tellurite blood agar is used to selectively isolate Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The tellurite in the medium inhibits many other bacteria, while C. diphtheriae reduces tellurite to elemental tellurium, producing distinctive black colonies (often with a brown halo) that stand out on the plate. This combination of selectivity and a characteristic colony appearance makes this medium particularly suited for identifying diphtherial isolates from clinical samples. Other organisms do not typically form the same dark, tellurite-reducing colonies on this medium, so isolation on CTBA specifically highlights Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

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