Candle Jar: Introduction, Principle, Test Requirements, Test Procedure

Candle Jar: Introduction, Principle, Test Requirements, Test Procedure, and Keynotes

Introduction of Candle Jar

Candle Jar is used to incubate the culture in an atmosphere containing 5- 7% CO₂. It is the conventional technique alternative to a CO₂ incubator and principally uses for capnophilic bacteria like Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria menigitidis. It is also helpful for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Requirement for Candle Jar in microbiology

Candle jar
Candle
Lighter/ match
Test organisms
Culture plates
Incubator
Bunsen burner
Inoculating loop

Principle of Candle Jar

A candle jar is a container into which a burning candle is introduced before sealing the container’s airtight lid and the jar is used to grow organisms requiring an increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration like capnophiles (Haemophilus and Neisseria). Candle jar increases carbon dioxide concentrations and still leaves some oxygen (O₂) for aerobic capnophiles.

Procedure of Candle Jar

The candle extinction jar is made using a ton or a bottle with a large mouth to enable inserting Petri dishes.
Several plates are places in the jar after inoculation.
After the plates are placed in the jar, a small candle is placed near the bottom of the jar and lighted.
The top is replaced and tightened.
The lighted candle will increase the amount of CO₂in the jar and eventually as oxygen is reduced the candle will stop burning.
The jar is then placed in the incubator at 37 °C.
The jar was removed and opened the plates then removed and cultures result in reading.

Keynotes on Candle Jar

Capnophilic organisms are Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria menigitidis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Candle jar use for anaerobiosis: Candle jar use for anaerobiosis is really a subject of laughing at this time but still, it is very helpful in certain scenarios e.g. ‘Use of an Innovative Simple Method for Anaerobiosis in the Diagnosis and Management of Infections in Two Unusual Cases’.
Obligate aerobes require oxygen and have no fermentative pathways. Generally, produce superoxide dismutase. e.g. Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Bacillus.
Microaerophilic bacteria require low but not full oxygen tension. e.g. Campylobacter, and Helicobacter.
Facultative anaerobes respire aerobically until oxygen is depleted and then ferment or respire anaerobically. e.g. Staphylococcus aureus and bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae like E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Citrobacter, and Serratia.
Obligate anaerobes lack superoxide dismutase and also generally lack catalase. They are fermenters and can not use oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor. e.g. Actinomyces, Bacteroides, Clostridium. To learn mnemonics is ABCs of anaerobiosis.

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