An automated multiplexed turbidometric and data collection system for measuring growth kinetics of anaerobes dependent on gaseous substrates

Journal Article · Fri Jul 30 00:00:00 UTC 2021 · Journal of Microbiological Methods

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106294 · OSTI ID:1828000

Hunt, Kristopher A. ^[1]; Forbes, Jonathan ^[1]; Taub, Fred ^[1]; Elliott, Nicholas ^[1]; Hardwicke, Jessica ^[1]; Petersen, Robert ^[1]; Stopnisek, Nejc ^[2]; Beck, David A.C. ^[1]; Stahl, David A. ^[1]

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1. University of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
2. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen (Netherlands)

Standard methods of monitoring the growth kinetics of anaerobic microorganisms are generally impractical when there is a protracted or indeterminate period of active growth, and when high numbers of samples or replications are required. As part of our studies of the adaptive evolution of a simple anaerobic syntrophic mutualism, requiring the characterization of many isolates and alternative syntrophic pairings, here we developed a multiplexed growth monitoring system using a combination of commercially available electronics and custom designed circuitry and materials. This system automatically monitors up to 64 sealed, and as needed pressurized, culture tubes and reports the growth data in real-time through integration with a customized relational database. The utility of this system was demonstrated by resolving minor differences in growth kinetics associated with the adaptive evolution of a simple microbial community comprised of a sulfate reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, grown in syntrophic association with Methanococcus maripaludis, a hydrogenotrophic methanogen.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1828000
• Journal Information: Journal of Microbiological Methods, Journal Name: Journal of Microbiological Methods Vol. 188; ISSN 0167-7012
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English