Used in microbiology laboratories to isolate and cultivate halophilic (salt-loving) bacteria from environmental or clinical samples. The hypertonic environment selects for organisms capable of surviving high salt concentrations, making it useful in studying bacterial osmoregulation and in the identification of salt-tolerant pathogens. Commonly employed in food safety testing to detect halophilic bacteria such as *Vibrio* species in seafood. Also used in research settings to induce osmotic stress responses in bacterial cultures for physiological and genetic studies.