IMViC Test: Introduction, Principle, Test Procedure and Result Interpretation
IMViC Test
IMViC tests stands for Indole test , Methyl red test , Voges-Proskauer test and Citrate test. These tests are useful for differentiating the family Enterobacteriaceae as shown above image.
Various test strips are commercially available for these four tests in a single form but here we discuss singly as shown below-
# 1. Indole test for bacteria#
This indole test is useful for both aerobic and anaerobic gram-negative rods and really very useful in the routine identification of bacteria in Microbiology.
Principle of Indole test
The ability of bacteria to split indole from the amino acid tryptophan is due to the presence of the enzyme, tryptophanase. Indole, if present combines with an aldehyde in the reagent to produce a pink to red-violet quinoidal compound if using benzaldehyde reagent or blue to green when using cinnamaldehyde reagent.
Requirements for Indole test
Fresh growth of gram-negative rods (test organism)
Do not use media that contain dyes (e.g. Eosin methylene blue, MacConkey agar).
#2. Methyl Red (MR) test#
Methyl Red test is for enteric gram-negative rods, as part of identification to species level.
Principle of methyl red test
The methyl red (MR) test uses to determine if an organism is able to produce stable acid end products from glucose fermentation Methyl red indicator (red color below pH 4.4; yellow color at pH 5.8) uses to determine the pH after an enteric gram-negative rod has fermented glucose to completion. All members of the Enterobacteriaceae give a positive methyl red reaction when tested up to 24 h due to conversion of glucose to pyruvic acid by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. After further incubation (2 to 5 days) those organisms that are MR positive continue to metabolize pyruvic acid to lactic, acetic, and formic acids by the mixed acid pathway and are able to maintain the acid pH (4.4).
Composition of MR-VP broth
Buffered peptone:7.0 g
Glucose:5.0 g
Dipotassium phosphate:5.0 g
Deionized / Distilled water: 1000 ml
Final pH:6.9
Generally dispense approximately 5 ml per tube.
Use enough broth to cover an inverted Durham tube, if it is used.
Dispense 2 ml of MR-VP broth for rapid VP testing and 0.5 ml for rapid MR testing.
Preparation of Methyl red solution
Methyl red solution, 0.02%
Dissolve 0.1 g of methyl red in 300 ml of 95% ethyl alcohol.
Inoculate test organism and incubate at 35C for at least 48 hours. Note: If the center of one colony is inoculated to a 0.5-ml volume of MR-VP broth, the test can be read at 18 to 24 hours.
Remove approximately 1 ml of the 48-hours broth to a 13-by 100-mm tube. (The remainder should be reserved for testing at 3 to 5 days if necessary.)
Add 3 to 6 drops (or 1 drop to 0.5 ml) of methyl red indicator to the aliquot.
Observe for red color immediately.
Result and Interpretation of Methyl red test
The development of a stable red color on the surface of the medium indicates sufficient acid production to lower the pH to 4.4 and constitutes a positive test. Because other organisms may produce smaller quantities of acid from the test substrate, an intermediate orange color between yellow and red may develop. This does not indicate a positive test. The yellow color indicates a negative test.
Organisms utilizing the butylene glycol pathway produce acetylmethylcarbinol (acetoin) and butanediol, neutral end products that raise the pH towards neutrality (pH 6) and result in a high final pH. Most Enterobacteriaceae demonstrate one or the other metabolic pathway but rarely both. The Voges-Proskauer (VP) test is used to determine if an organism produces acetylmethylcarbinol from glucose fermentation. If present, acetylmethylcarbinol is converted to diacetyl in the presence of α-naphthol, strong alkali (40% KOH), and atmospheric oxygen. The α-naphthol was not part of the original procedure but was found to act as a color intensifier and must be added first. The diacetyl and guanidine-containing compounds found in the peptones of the broth then condense to form a pinkish-red polymer.
Inoculate a colony of test organism in MR-VP broth and incubate at 35°C for 18 to 24 hours. Do not tighten caps. Note: Some organisms may produce acetylmethylcarbinol at room temperature and not 35°C e.g. Hafnia alvei, Yersinia, Listeria. In this case, inoculate another broth and incubate at room temperature.
If a 5-ml broth culture is used, aliquot 2.0 ml of broth into 13 by 100-mm test tube. Hold the remainder for possible reincubation.
Add 6 drops of 5% α-naphthol, and mix well to aerate.
Add 2 drops of 40% potassium hydroxide, and mix well to aerate.
Observe for a pink-red color at the surface within 30 min. Shake the tube vigorously during the 30-min period. Note: If the result is negative, MR-VP broth can be incubated for up 48 h and the test repeated.
Result and Interpretation of Voges Proskauer test
Voges Proskauer test positive: A pink-red color at the surface is a positive reaction
Voges Proskauer test negative: A lack of a pink-red color is a negative reaction.
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922—VP negative (no change)
A copper color should be considered negative. Rust color is a weak positive
Most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae give opposite MR and VP reactions; however, certain organisms, like H. alvei and Proteus mirabilis, may give both a positive MR reaction and a positive VP reaction (often delayed)
Streptococcus mitis group organisms are VP negative, whereas the other viridans group streptococci are VP positive, except Streptococcus vestibularis, which is a VP variable.
Listeria organisms are beta-hemolytic, gram-positive rods that are VP positive at 25°C, but this test is not a key test in the identification.
#4. Citrate Test#
Principle of Citrate Utilization Test
A citrate utilization test is used to determine the ability of an organism to utilize sodium citrate as its only carbon source and inorganic ammonium salts as its only nitrogen source. When the bacteria metabolize citrate, the ammonium salts are broken down to ammonia, which increases alkalinity turning the bromthymol blue indicator from green to blue.
Principle of Citrate Utilization Test
Requirements for Test
Simmons citrate agar slant
Cotton plug
Sterile Inoculating wire/ sticks
Test organism
Bunsen burner
Incubator
Test tube rack
Procedure of citrate utilization test
Streak the slant back and forth with a light inoculum picked from the center of a well-isolated colony.
Place cap loosely on the tube.
Incubate aerobically at 35°C to 37°C for 18 to 24 hours.
Observe a color change from green to blue along the slant.
Quality control
Quality Control strains used in citrate utilization test
Positive: Growth on the medium with color change from green to intense blue.
Negative: Absence of growth and color change
Result and interpretation in citrate utilization test
Citrate utilization test positive: The growth will be visible on the slant surface and the medium will be an intense blue. The alkaline carbonates and bicarbonates produced as by-products of citrate catabolism raise the pH of the medium to above 7.6, causing the bromothymol blue to change from the original green color to blue.
Citrate utilization test negative: trace or no growth will be visible. No color change will occur; the medium will remain the green color of the uninoculated agar. Only bacteria that can utilize citrate as the sole carbon and energy source will be able to grow on the Simmons citrate medium, thus a citrate utilization negative test culture will be virtually indistinguishable from an uninoculated slant.
Uninoculated (UN): No growth and no color change; slant remains green
Negative control: No growth and no color change; slant remains green
Positive control: Growth with color change from green to intense blue along the slant
Test organism/bacteria: Positive i.e. growth with color change from green to intense blue along the slant as shown above figure.
List of Bacteria which gives positive citrate utilization test
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Citrobacter freundii
Enterobacter cloacae (a minority of strains gives negative results)
Salmonella other than Typhi and Paratyphi A
Serratia marcescens
Proteus mirabilis(a minority of strains gives negative results)
Providencia alcalifaeciens
Vibrio vulnificus
Euringella Americana
Achromobacter oxylosoxidans
Citrate Test: variable (different strains give different results)
Proteus vulgaris
Vibrio cholerae
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Citrate test: negative
Escherichia coli
Shigella species
SalmonellaTyphi
SalmonellaParatyphi A
Morganella morganii
Yersinia enterocolitica
Edwardsiella tarda
Vibrio holisae
Keynotes on Citrate utilization Test
Generally, incubate aerobically at 35°C to 37°C for 18 to 24 hours but if negative Some organisms may require up to 4 days of incubation due to their limited rate of growth on citrate medium.
Other methods of citrate utilization test available are-IMViC the test kit method and API test kit method
As you know, Escherichia coli is citrate utilization test negative; although uncommon, natural E. coli variants that are citrate positive have been isolated. Citrate-negative strains of E. aerogenes have also been found.
Other media used for citrate utilization test are-
Koser’s Citrate Medium
It is a liquid medium lacking agar.
It does not contain any indicator.
A positive test is shown by the presence of turbidity in the medium.
Christen’s citrate medium
Same as Simmons citrate medium in which bromothymol blue indicator is replaced by phenol red.
Limitations of Citrate utilization test
The limitations of this test are as follow:
Luxuriant growth on the slant without an accompanying color change may indicate a positive test. However, if the agar does not turn blue on further incubation, the test should be repeated with less inoculum.
Do not stab the slant, since the test requires an aerobic environment.
Do not inoculate from the broth culture, due to carryover of media.
Tests with equivocal results should be repeated.
To avoid false-positive reactions, use a light inoculum to prevent the carryover of t substances from the previous medium.
The reaction of this medium alone is not sufficient for identification at the species level.
Bibliography
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