title: Effect of the volume-to-surface ratio of cultures on Escherichia coli growth: an experimental and theoretical analysis.
abstract: The growth dynamics of bacterial populations are usually represented by the classical S-shaped profiles composed of lag, exponential and stationary growth phases. Although exceptions to this classical behavior occur, they are normally produced under non-standard conditions such as supply of two carbohydrates as sole carbon source. However, we here report variations in the classic S-shaped growth profiles of Escherichia coli under standard culturing conditions; explicitly, we found growth during transition to the stationary phase wherein the bacterial growth rate inversely depended on the volume-to-surface ratio of cultures (V/S); the reasons for this behavior were experimentally explored. To complement our experimental analysis, a theoretical model that rationalizes the bacterial response was developed; simulations based on the developed model essentially reproduced experimental growth curves. We consequently conclude that the effect of V/S on E. coli growth reflects an interplay between auto-catalytic bacterial growth, bacterial growth auto-inhibition, and, the relief of that inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Haydee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buhse
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parmananda
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical