title: A sensitive standardised micro-gel well diffusion assay for the determination of antimicrobial activity.
abstract: We have developed a highly sensitive micro-gel well diffusion assay for the determination of antimicrobial activity. In essence, the normal radial diffusion type assay was adapted to perform it in a microtiter plate. We compared our micro-gel well diffusion assay to a radial diffusion assay and a microtiter broth dilution method, using gramicidin S as model antibiotic, and Micrococcus luteus as the indicator organism. The micro-gel well diffusion assay was as sensitive as the microtiter broth dilution method, and approximately twice as sensitive as the radial diffusion method. Data analysis to calculate minimum inhibitory concentration, 50% microbial growth inhibition and maximum inhibitory concentration was refined by generating dose-response curves with the software package Prism 3.0 (Graphpad Software Inc.). The minimum inhibitory concentrations, determined by the three methods, were significantly different (P<0. 001), highlighting the limitations involved in comparing data obtained from different methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: du Toit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rautenbach
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006096:Gramicidin