Improved detection of rhamnolipid production using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide.
Rhamnolipids, produced predominantly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are biosurfactants with important applications. For efficient culture screening according to rhamnolipid productivity, the method using agar plates containing methylene blue (MB) and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was re-examined. An alternative set-up using a fixed underneath light source and image analysis software improved the detection of the circles formed due to complexation between anionic rhamnolipids and cationic MB/CTAB. The roles and effects of MB and CTAB concentrations and pH on the complexation phenomena are reported.
Pinzon
Neissa M
NM
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3906, USA.
Ju
Lu-Kwang
LK
D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism*
D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D006017:Glycolipids; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C418382:rhamnolipid; D000362:Agar; D008751:Methylene Blue; D000077286:Cetrimonium