Why can Enterotube II System be used to identify only gram-ngative, oxidase negative Enterobacteriaceae?

The Enterotube II System is a commercially available system used for the identification of bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. This system is designed to identify gram-negative, oxidase-negative bacteria within this family. The reason it can only be used for the identification of these specific bacteria is because the components within the Enterotube II System are specifically designed to test for the characteristics and metabolic activities of the Enterobacteriaceae group.

The system utilizes a series of biochemical tests, including the utilization of various sugars and other substrates, to determine the metabolic capabilities of the bacteria. These tests are based on the unique enzymatic activities exhibited by the members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. This includes the ability to ferment specific sugars, produce certain enzymes, and metabolize various compounds.

The oxidase-negative requirement in the Enterotube II System is because members of the Enterobacteriaceae family are typically oxidase-negative. The presence of the oxidase enzyme in certain gram-negative bacteria would interfere with the accuracy of the tests performed within the system.

Therefore, the Enterotube II System is specifically designed and optimized for the identification of gram-negative, oxidase-negative Enterobacteriaceae. If other types of bacteria or other bacterial families are tested with this system, the reliability and accuracy of the results may be compromised. It is important to use alternative identification methods for the identification of gram-positive bacteria or other bacterial families.