ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

XLD agar

XLD agar is a special kind of jelly that helps scientists grow and identify certain kinds of bacteria. Think of it like a special playground where only some kinds of bacteria are allowed to play.

The jelly is made up of different nutrients that help the bacteria grow, kind of like how your dinner helps you grow big and strong. It also has something called phenol red that makes the jelly change color depending on the type of bacteria that's growing on it.

Scientists use XLD agar to find out if certain bacteria, like Salmonella, are present in a sample. They take a tiny bit of the sample and spread it on the XLD agar. Then they wait and watch what happens.

If there are Salmonella bacteria in the sample, they will grow on the XLD agar and turn the jelly a reddish color. Scientists can then use special tests to confirm that it is indeed Salmonella that's growing on the jelly.

Overall, XLD agar is a very useful tool for scientists to help them identify and study different types of bacteria.