The niacin test has been widely used since the 1960s to identify mycobacteria at the species level in the clinical laboratory.[1] The niacin test detects niacin (nicotinic acid) in aqueous extracts of a culture. M. tuberculosis strains that test negative for the niacin test are very rare.[2]
Redox reactions happening in Mycobacterium species produce niacin as a part of energy metabolism. Even though all mycobacteria produce niacin, M. tuberculosis accumulates an excess of niacin because of its inability to process niacin, excreting the excess niacin into the culture media, thus allowing it to be detected using the niacin test.[3] The niacin test is typically only conducted on slow-growing, granular, tan colored colonies, as these are the morphology characteristics of M. tuberculosis on an agar plate.[4] Because of its affordability compared to expensive identification methods like pyrosequencing or MALDI-TOF MS that require expensive machines and reagents.[5]
A negative niacin test on the left, a positive niacin test on the right.
^Young, W.D.; Maslansky, Alvin; Lefar, Lefar; Kronish, Donald (December 1970). "Development of a paper strip test for detection of niacin produced by mycobacteria". Applied Microbiology. 20 (6): 939–945. PMC 377087. PMID 4321713.
^Palomino, Juan; Leão, Sylvia; Ritacco, Viviana, eds. (June 2007). Tuberculosis 2007(PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
^Acharya, Tankeshwar (22 July 2013). "Key biochemical methods used to distinguish Mycobacterial group". microbeonline. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^Gadre; Mahajan; Singh; Agarwal; Talwar (1995). "Niacin Test for Mycobacteria: A Comparative Study of Two Methods" (PDF). Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 42: 225–226. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
The niacintest has been widely used since the 1960s to identify mycobacteria at the species level in the clinical laboratory. The niacintest detects...
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an organic compound and a vitamer of vitamin B3, an essential human nutrient. It is produced by plants and animals...
typically based on symptoms and may be assisted by urine testing. Treatment is with either niacin or nicotinamide supplementation. Improvements typically...
hypothesis", he and Osmond in 1967 speculated that megadoses of vitamin C and niacin could cure schizophrenia by reducing brain adrenochrome. The treatment of...
cells. Niacin has also been used and tested for the purpose of enhancing detoxification by removing skin lipid-stored xenobiotics. In vitro testing has evidenced...
Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA2), also known as GPR109A and niacin receptor 1 (NIACR1), is a protein which in humans is encoded (its formation...
that converts free niacin to niacin ribonucleotide. M. tuberculosis (and some other species) lack this enzyme, and accumulate niacin as a water-soluble...
an experimental therapy for alcoholism and the discovery that high-dose niacin can be used to treat high cholesterol and other dyslipidemias. Hoffer's...
riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and folic acid (B9). Wheat flour sold in Colombia must by law be fortified with vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin (B3), folic acid...
and development. The coenzymes are also required for the metabolism of niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Riboflavin is prescribed to treat corneal thinning...
tryptophan that can be, in turn, converted into serotonin, melatonin, and niacin). Niacin is a precursor to nicotinamide (both are forms of vitamin B3), a necessary...
hypothyroidism and hypoglycemia, nutritional deficiencies including thiamine and niacin, infections, immune disorders, liver or kidney failure, metabolic disorders...
little.[citation needed] Treatment include diet control, fibrates and niacins. Statins are not better than fibrates when lowering triglyceride levels...
nucleotide derived from ribose, nicotinamide, nicotinamide riboside and niacin. In humans, several enzymes use NMN to generate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide...
specific combination of Gymnema sylvestre extract, hydroxycitric acid, and niacin-bound chromium by mouth for 8 weeks might reduce body weight in people who...
pycamilon, and pikamilon) is a drug formed by a synthetic combination of niacin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It was developed in the Soviet Union in...
the time of acquisition Kos marketed Niaspan (extended release niacin), and Advicor (niacin/lovastatin). In 2007 the company was to sell two diagnostics...
hominy grits. Maize protein is low in some essential amino acids, and the niacin it contains only becomes available if freed by alkali treatment. In Mesoamerica...
transferase (QPT) to form niacin mononucleotide (NaMN). The reaction now proceeds via the NAD salvage cycle to produce niacin via the conversion of nicotinamide...
Marmite is rich in B vitamins including thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and folic acid (B9). Vitamin B12 is only available through artificial...
indicative organism in niacin bioassay experiments, in particular, AOAC International Official Method 944.13, as it is a niacin auxotroph. Microbial food...
purely spiritual, depending on context. Hubbard put forward his ideas about niacin in a book called All About Radiation. He claimed to have discovered that...
temperature. Biosynthesis of niacin occurs by metabolism of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway to quinolinic acid, the niacin precursor. However, cats...
Indications Related to the Coadministration With Statins in Applications for Niacin Extended-Release Tablets and Fenofibric Acid Delayed Release Capsules" noting...
Score between Niacin and Drug Tests, 2005". Nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com. 2007-07-22. Retrieved 2010-07-27. "Use of Niacin in Attempts to...
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