CORN MEAL AGAR

A mycological medium that is a suitable substrate for chlamydospore production by Candida albicans.

Code: CB1/5405

Typical formula g/l

Corn meal extract	2.0
Agar	15.0

pH: 6.0 +/- 0.2

Directions
Weigh 17g in 1000ml of distilled water. Bring to the boil to dissolve completely. Sterilise by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.

Description
Corn Meal Agar is a mycological medium, which is a suitable substrate for chlamydospore production by Candida albicans. The addition of Tween 80^® to Corn Meal Agar greatly enhances the development of chlamydospores on the medium.

Method

A single Petri dish containing Corn Meal Agar may be used to identify four or five different colonies of Candida grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Using a straight wire, pick a colony off the surface of the SDA and make a deep cut in the Corn Meal Agar. Repeat for each colony. Place a flamed sterile cover slip over the line of inoculum. After incubation for 24 to 48 hours at 22°C, the streaks are studied microscopically. Along such streaks, C. albicans produces mycelium-bearing ball-like clusters of growing cells and the characteristic thickening around chlamydospores. The addition of 0.001g % w/v Trypan blue to Corn Meal Agar provides a contrasting background for the study of characteristic morphological features of yeast cultures.

Storage
Store the dehydrated medium at 10-30°C and use before the expiry date on the label. Store the prepared medium at 2-8°C.

Appearance
Dehydrated medium: Pale-white coloured powder.
Prepared medium: Light straw coloured gel.

Quality Control

Positive controls:

Candida albicans ATCC10231

Negative control:

Candida krusei ATCC6258