Long-term monitoring of bacteria undergoing programmed population control in a microchemostat.
Using an active approach to preventing biofilm formation, we implemented a microfluidic bioreactor that enables long-term culture and monitoring of extremely small populations of bacteria with single-cell resolution. We used this device to observe the dynamics of Escherichia coli carrying a synthetic "population control" circuit that regulates cell density through a feedback mechanism based on quorum sensing. The microfluidic bioreactor enabled long-term monitoring of unnatural behavior programmed by the synthetic circuit, which included sustained oscillations in cell density and associated morphological changes, over hundreds of hours.
Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Frederick K
FK
Balagaddé
Lingchong
L
You
Carl L
CL
Hansen
Frances H
FH
Arnold
Stephen R
SR
Quake
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D019149:Bioreactors; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside / Q000494:pharmacology; D008433:Mathematics; D044085:Microfluidics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media; C088386:homoserine lactone; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside; D015107:4-Butyrolactone