Use of oxygen-permeable silicone rubber pouches for growing mass cultures of bacteria.
Growth of most bacteria often involves the use of expensive incubated shaker systems. In this report, oxygen-permeable silicone rubber pouches, with oxygen permeability over 100 times higher than other polymers, were employed for growing bacterial cultures. With little, if any, agitation oxygen-permeable silicone rubber pouches produced bacterial growth rates equivalent to growth rates obtained in shaker flasks. The silicone rubber pouch described has a glass cuvette integrated into its design that permits readings of bacterial density without opening the pouch. One can sterilize and store powdered bacterial culture medium in silicone rubber pouches; therefore, bacterial cultures can be initiated by simply adding water and bacteria.
Giambernardi
T A
TA
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284, USA.
Klebe
R J
RJ
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012408:Rubber; D012828:Silicones
D012828:Silicones; D012408:Rubber; D010100:Oxygen