Ascorbic Acid Reducing Agent for Anaerobic Bacteria Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for culturing obligate anaerobic and microaerobic bacteria require specialized equipment and knowledge, making them difficult to detect in clinical settings, and existing media for aerobic environments are not suitable for long-term storage.
Innovation Solution
A medium containing ascorbic acid as a reducing agent, along with growth-supporting agents like sodium sulfite, allows for the long-term storage and easy detection of these bacteria under aerobic conditions without the need for specialized equipment or knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a medium containing thioglycolic acid and L-cysteine as reducing agents is used for culturing C. difficile under aerobic environment, then the use of special equipment and special knowledge and techniques for culturing under anaerobic environment is not necessary, but the detection sensitivity for C. difficile gradually decreases after two weeks from the preparation of the medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the medium by replacing thioglycolic acid and L-cysteine with ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. This parameter change allows the medium to maintain stable detection sensitivity for at least 4 months while still enabling culturing under aerobic environment, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and duration of action.
2Reliability
If special equipment and special knowledge and techniques are used for culturing obligate anaerobic bacteria under anaerobic environment, then the bacteria can be cultured, but the detection method becomes difficult to apply in clinical settings such as hospitals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ascorbic acid as an intermediary substance that mediates between the requirement for anaerobic conditions and the desire to culture under aerobic environment. The ascorbic acid creates a reducing environment that allows obligate anaerobic bacteria to grow under aerobic conditions, thus eliminating the need for special equipment while maintaining culturing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxygen parameter of the culturing environment from strictly anaerobic to aerobic by using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent. This parameter change enables the use of ordinary incubators instead of specialized anaerobic chambers, making the detection method applicable in routine clinical settings.
3Ease of operation
If a medium for culturing obligate anaerobic bacteria under aerobic environment is developed, then easy detection becomes possible, but the medium is not suitable for long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by selecting ascorbic acid as the reducing agent instead of thioglycolic acid or L-cysteine. Ascorbic acid has superior storage stability, allowing the medium to maintain its composition and detection sensitivity for at least 4 months, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and compositional stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The medium ensures a sufficient quality-retaining period of at least 4 months, enabling commercialization and easy detection of obligate anaerobic and microaerobic bacteria, improving detection sensitivity and preventing false negatives, allowing for accurate disease diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
a medium comprising ascorbic acid as a reducing agent
Implementation Method 2
growth-supporting agents like sodium sulfite
Data Source
Figure 1~1(b)
Figure 2~2(b)
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a medium suitable for long-term storage, i.e., that ensures sufficient quality retention period, for growing obligate anaerobic bacteria or microaerobic bacteria under aerobic environment, and to provide a method of easily detecting obligate anaerobic bacteria or microaerobic bacteria using said medium. [Means for solving the problem] A long-term storage medium comprising dithiothreitol and/or ascorbic acid as a reducing agent in a basal medium, for culturing obligate anaerobic bacteria or microaerobic bacteria under aerobic environment, and a method of detecting obligate anaerobic bacteria or microaerobic bacteria using said medium.