Microwave sterilization of growth medium alleviates inhibition of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans by Maillard Reaction Products. Journal of microbiological methods [J Microbiol Methods] Journal article

Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans, is the causative agent of localized aggressive periodontitis and endocarditis. The bacteria grow slowly even in a rich medium and rapidly lose viability after about 19 hours of growth. One of the reasons for the slow growth and for the decreased viability is the conventional method of making growth media by autoclaving. Faster growth and greater viability was observed in both broth and plates if the growth media were sterilized by microwave radiation rather than by autoclaving. One difference between autoclaved and microwaved media is that the autoclaved media are darker brown in color, which is known to be due to Maillard reaction products, also known as Amadori products. The Maillard reaction products formed by autoclaving a mixture of lysine and glucose was shown to inhibit growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Journal of microbiological methods [J Microbiol Methods]