title: Water-in-oil macroemulsions sustain long-term viability of microbial cells in organic solvents.
abstract: Extremely stable water-in-oil macroemulsions have been obtained by dispersing water in isooctane in the presence of lecithin. Either prokaryotic (Escherichia coli) and eukaryotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodotorula minuta) cells hosted in these water-in-oil macroemulsions are viable for weeks despite the consistent excess of organic solvent (ranging from 70 to 84%, v/v) in these ternary systems. Conjugation occurs upon mixing macroemulsions containing F(+) or F(-) Escherichia coli strains, indicating consistent mass transfer between the water droplets. Populations of yeasts hosted in water-in-oil macroemulsion feature a higher frequency of cells aggregation when compared with the corresponding populations suspended in homogeneous aqueous media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefan
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceglie
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panzavolta
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hochkoeppler
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004655:Emulsions / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009795:Octanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009821:Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000494:pharmacology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009795:Octanes; D009821:Oils; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; C045798:2,2,4-trimethylpentane