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Questions and Answers
Which type of hemolysis results in a clearing of the blood agar?
What is the primary advantage for organisms that are able to produce hemolysins?
Which statement is true about α-hemolysis in the context of blood agar?
What is the primary target of hemolysins produced by certain Gram-positive cocci?
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What can you observe when viewing a plate with -hemolytic organisms held up to the light?
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Why are organisms that produce hemolysins considered to have an advantage?
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Study Notes
Blood Agar and Hemolysis
- Blood agar is an enriched media composed of tryptic soy agar with 5% sheep's blood added to it.
- It is used as a differential media in the medical microbiology lab.
- Gram-positive cocci can hemolyze (lyse) red blood cells and hemoglobin due to the production of hemolysins.
- Hemolysins are exotoxins that cause red blood cells to burst open, releasing iron bound to hemoglobin molecules.
Types of Hemolysis
- Hemolysis β (beta) is complete destruction of red blood cells and hemoglobin, resulting in a clearing of the blood agar.
- Hemolysis β is characterized by a clear area around the inoculated organism on the blood agar plate.
- Hemolysis α (alpha) is partial destruction of red blood cells and hemoglobin, resulting in a green appearance on the blood agar surface.
- Hemolysis Υ (gamma) is non-hemolysis, where the organism grows on the agar surface without affecting the red blood cells.
Importance of Hemolysis
- Iron is a limiting nutrient for many organisms, and hemolysin production provides an advantage for those organisms.
- Hemolysin production allows organisms to access iron bound to hemoglobin molecules within red blood cells.
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Description
Explore the use of blood agar as a differential media in medical microbiology labs. Learn about the ability of Gram-positive cocci to hemolyze red blood cells and hemoglobin through the production of hemolysins. Test your knowledge on the targeting of iron by these organisms.
