Characterising bacteria is essential for understanding their roles in ecosystems, diagnosing infections, and developing treatments. It helps identify beneficial strains for probiotics and industrial applications, and informs antibiotic resistance strategies. Accurate bacterial characterisation also aids in tracking disease outbreaks and ensures food and water safety.
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
Dynamic Light Scattering characterises bacteria by measuring their size distribution and aggregation. It’s a non-invasive, rapid method, crucial for understanding bacterial behavior in various environments and applications.
Coulter Principle
The Coulter principle characterises bacteria by measuring changes in electrical resistance as they pass through a small aperture. This method accurately determines bacterial size and concentration in a sample.
Case study
In the biotechnology industry, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widely used bacterial strain for the production of recombinant proteins, plasmid DNA, and other bioproducts. Ensuring optimal growth and maintaining the quality of E. coli cultures is crucial for production efficiency.
The Beckman Coulter Multisizer 4e proved to be an essential tool for analyzing E. coli cultures in a biotechnology company. Its capability to provide precise and detailed measurements of cell size distribution and concentration ensured optimal fermentation conditions, leading to high-quality production of recombinant proteins and other bioproducts. The use of the Multisizer 4e improved process control, enhanced product consistency, and supported regulatory compliance, thereby contributing significantly to the efficiency and success of biotechnological manufacturing operations.
Instruments to support characterisation of bacteria
