title: Use of oxygen-permeable silicone rubber pouches for growing mass cultures of bacteria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Giambernardi
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Klebe
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones; D012408:Rubber; D010100:Oxygen