Iron sulfite agar

Iron sulfite agar (Wilson-Blair agar) is a nutrient medium used in microbiology for the cultivation of bacteria. It consists of agar, which is a solid material, and iron (ferrous sulfate), which gives the medium its characteristic color.

Iron sulfite agar was discovered in 1887 by two scientists - bacteriologist John Flinders Wilson and biochemist Henry G. Blair. They found that bacteria growing on a medium containing ferrous sulfate and agar formed characteristic colonies.

Wilson-Blair medium is widely used in microbiology laboratories for the cultivation of various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeast. It is also used for the detection and identification of bacteria, as colonies on this medium have a characteristic appearance and color. In addition, Wilson-Blair medium can be used to determine the enzymatic activity of microorganisms.

However, it should be noted that iron sulfite agar medium is not ideal for cultivating all types of bacteria. Some bacteria may grow better in other media, such as those supplemented with glycerol or glucose. Therefore, when using the Wilson-Blair medium, it is necessary to take into account the growth characteristics of each specific type of microorganism.