What is Butyrate Disk Test ?

The Butyrate Disc Test is intended to identify Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis by assuming its presence in bacterial colonies isolated on culture media by looking for butyrate esterase.
A butyrate disc test is a lab test that evaluates the gut’s butyrate-producing bacteria’s efficacy.
Table of Contents
Principle
A qualitative approach called the Butyrate Disk Test is used to evaluate a bacterium’s capacity to create butyric acid, also known as butyrate. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and a primary source of energy for colonocytes. This test is very helpful in identifying some bacteria, including clostridia, which are well-known for producing butyrate.
The Butyrate Disk Test is based on the idea that a pre-loaded disk will diffuse butyrate at a given concentration into the surrounding agar medium. As a result, a butyrate concentration gradient forms all around the disk.
Butyrate-sensitive bacteria will show an inhibition zone surrounding the disk, where growth is inhibited. This zone’s dimensions correspond to the bacteria’s level of butyrate sensitivity.
Procedure

The agar plates should be prepared by using an appropriate agar medium (such as Mueller-Hinton agar) and inoculating the plates with the desired bacterial strain. Make sure the growth is consistent.
Put the Butyrate Disk to Use, On the infected agar plate, place a butyrate disk that has already been loaded. Butyrate is present at a particular concentration on the disk.
Place the plates in an incubator set to the bacterial strain’s ideal growth temperature.
Measure the zone of inhibition by looking for clearing zones around the butyrate disk on the plates after incubation. Calculate the inhibitory zone’s diameter in millimeters.
Results
The Results of this test,
Sensitive strains :A distinct zone of inhibition surrounding the butyrate disk is evident in sensitive strains. The bacteria are more sensitive in greater zones.
Strains that are resistant: Display little to no inhibition zone.
Intermediate sensitivity: A tiny zone of inhibition could be visible.
Uses
Antibiotic sensitivity testing: Testing for the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics by exposing them to butyrate, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid that is generated in the gut by beneficial bacteria.
studies of research: examining how butyrate affects the development of biofilms, pathogenicity, and bacterial proliferation.
Food microbiology: Evaluating butyrate’s suitability as a possible food preservative.

Understanding gut microbiome: Studying the relationships between butyrate and various gut bacterial species can help us better understand the gut microbiome.
Limitations
Limited sensitivity: In certain bacteria, low levels of butyrate sensitivity may be undetected by the Butyrate Disk Test.
Variability in results: Agar media, incubation conditions, and the age of the bacterial culture are a few of the variables that may affect the test.
Absence of established protocols: The Butyrate Disk Test currently lacks a standardized methodology, which may cause variations in results between laboratories.
Not a definitive test: A qualitative evaluation of butyrate susceptibility is offered by the Butyrate Disk Test. Quantitative analysis requires more research, such as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) experiments.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
What is Butyrate Disk Test ?
The Butyrate Disc Test is intended to identify Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis by assuming its presence in bacterial colonies isolated on culture media by looking for butyrate esterase.
What is the uses of this test?
The uses of Butyrate Disk Test,
Antibiotic sensitivity testing: Testing for the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics by exposing them to butyrate, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid that is generated in the gut by beneficial bacteria.
studies of research: examining how butyrate affects the development of biofilms, pathogenicity, and bacterial proliferation.
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