# MRS agar

> selective culture medium designed to favour the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli for lab study

**Wikidata**: [Q644308](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q644308)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRS_agar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mrs-agar

## Summary
MRS agar is a selective culture medium specifically designed to promote the abundant growth of Lactobacilli for laboratory study. It is a type of growth medium used for the cultivation of microorganisms.

## Key Facts
-   MRS agar is an instance of a growth medium.
-   It was discovered or invented in 1960.
-   The discoverers or inventors were Johannes Cornelis de Man, Morrison Rogosa, and M Elisabeth Sharpe.
-   MRS agar is a selective culture medium designed to favour the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli for lab study.
-   Its Wikipedia title is "MRS agar" and it has Wikipedia entries in 6 languages (de, en, fr, ja, pt, th).
-   The entity has a Freebase ID of /m/03cczk3.
-   Its Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) is 2776419078.
-   An associated image is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Pediococcus_acidilactici_on_TSA.jpg.

## FAQs
### Q: What is MRS agar?
A: MRS agar is a selective culture medium. It is specifically formulated to support the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli, making it suitable for their study in laboratory environments.

### Q: What is the primary purpose of MRS agar?
A: The primary purpose of MRS agar is to favour the abundant growth of Lactobacilli. This allows researchers and scientists to cultivate and study these specific microorganisms effectively in a laboratory setting.

### Q: Who developed MRS agar and when?
A: MRS agar was developed by Johannes Cornelis de Man, Morrison Rogosa, and M Elisabeth Sharpe. The medium was invented in 1960.

## Why It Matters
MRS agar plays a critical role in microbiology and related fields because of its specific design to cultivate Lactobacilli. These bacteria are significant in various applications, including food fermentation (e.g., yogurt, cheese, sourdough), probiotic supplements, and human health, particularly in maintaining gut and vaginal flora. By providing a selective environment that promotes the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli, MRS agar enables scientists to isolate, identify, and study these microorganisms with high efficiency. This capability is essential for research into their metabolic pathways, genetic characteristics, and interactions with other microbes or hosts. Without a specialized medium like MRS agar, the isolation and study of Lactobacilli from complex samples would be significantly more challenging, potentially hindering advancements in food science, biotechnology, and medical microbiology. Its invention in 1960 provided a standardized and reliable tool, becoming a cornerstone for understanding and harnessing the beneficial properties of Lactobacilli.

## Notable For
-   Its specific formulation designed to favour the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli.
-   Being a selective culture medium, allowing for the isolation and study of target bacteria from mixed populations.
-   Its invention in 1960 by Johannes Cornelis de Man, Morrison Rogosa, and M Elisabeth Sharpe, establishing a standard for Lactobacilli cultivation.

## Body

### Definition and Purpose
MRS agar is a selective culture medium. Its primary design is to favour the luxuriant growth of Lactobacilli. This medium is specifically intended for use in laboratory studies of these microorganisms.

### Discovery and Development
MRS agar was invented in 1960. The discoverers or inventors of this medium were Johannes Cornelis de Man, Morrison Rogosa, and M Elisabeth Sharpe.

### Classification and Properties
MRS agar is classified as a growth medium. Growth media are liquids or gels used for the growth of microorganisms or cells. As a selective medium, it is formulated to encourage the growth of specific types of microorganisms while inhibiting others.

### Identifiers and Related Information
-   **Wikipedia Title**: MRS agar
-   **Wikipedia Languages**: The entity has Wikipedia entries in multiple languages, including German (de), English (en), French (fr), Japanese (ja), Portuguese (pt), and Thai (th).
-   **Sitelink Count**: There are 6 sitelinks associated with this entity.
-   **Freebase ID**: /m/03cczk3 (referenced with publication date 2013-10-28)
-   **Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued)**: 2776419078
-   **Image**: An associated image is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Pediococcus_acidilactici_on_TSA.jpg.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013