Application

Complete BSK-H Medium was used to culture B. burgdorferi to study the pathology of lyme borreliosis. It may be used in serum supplemented formulation for the growth and expansion of the Lyme desease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Biochem/physiol Actions

BSK-H medium is a standardized complex medium designed to support the growth of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. To standardize the procedure for isolating and culturing Lyme disease spirochetes, Pollack, RJ et. al. modified the composition of the medium generally used for this purpose (BSK-II) and developed a system for its distribution. This medium contains no gelatin or agarose, and various components are used in proportions that differ from those in BSK-II. Each of the major proteinacious components was screened by substitution in samples of the complete product. The final medium was evaluated for the capacity to grow related spirochetes including Borrelia burgdorferi N40, Guilford, and JD-1 as well as strains of Borrelia hermsii (HS-1) and of Borrelia coriaceae (CO53). Standardized medium, supplemented with prescreened rabbit serum, facilitates comparison of research results between laboratories and may eventually permit definitive clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease based on demonstration of the pathogen. The standardized medium is designated BSK-H. Barbour-Stonner-Kelly (BSK) medium is a modified medium for the culture of Borrelia strains that cause lyme borreliosis. BSK medium is a cheaper alternative for the selective culture of B. burgdorferi s.l. strains but not B. afzelii strain.

Preparation Note

BSK-H Medium is supplied as a sterile-filtered liquid. After thawing, mix well by inverting the bottle prior to use. If the thawed medium will not be used within a few days it is recommended that the medium be refrozen in working aliquots to avoid repeated free-thaw cycles. Other supplements may be added aseptically as desired. The nature of the supplement may affect storage conditions and shelf-life of the medium.