Enhanced growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the presence of selenium.

The present investigation found that the rate of growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was enhanced in the presence of sodium selenate. Stock cultures of M. tuberculosis streaked onto media containing sodium selenate showed visible colonies within three days, compared with 12 days on media without selenate. The optimum concentration for enhancement by sodium selenate was found to be 5 microgram/ml.