9.14: Citrate Test Procedure
Citrate Test Procedure
Name: _____________________________________________________
Course Section: ______________________________________________
The following activity will teach students how to inoculate a citrate agar slant. Post-inoculation, students will analyze growth patterns to access citrate utilization.
| Materials |
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| Procedure |
| Day 1 |
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Step 1:
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| Day 2 |
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Step 2:
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Results
In the table below, record your observations for colonies grown in Citrate media.
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Species |
Growth (Y/N) |
Color Change (Y/N) |
Citrate permease (+/-) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Escherichia coli |
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Serratia marcescens |
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General Questions
- How does the citrate test relate to understanding the metabolism of a bacterial species?
2. What does the color change from green to blue mean about the pH of the culture?
3. What does the color change from green to blue mean about the bacterial species in the culture?
4. Can the citrate test be used for bacterial identification and characterization? Explain your answer.
Health-Related Questions
1. How do Shigella infections cause stress on the American healthcare system?
2 . Which group or groups of people are more likely to develop a S. dysenteriae infection and why?
3. How can we prevent Shigella infections?