title: Single bacteria movement tracking by online microscopy--a proof of concept study.
abstract: In this technical report we demonstrate a low-cost online unit allowing movement tracking of flagellated bacteria on a single-cell level during fermentation processes. The system's ability to distinguish different metabolic states (viability) of bacteria by movement velocity was investigated. A flow-through cuvette with automatically adjustable layer thickness was developed. The cuvette can be used with most commercially available laboratory microscopes equipped with 40× amplification and a digital camera. In addition, an automated sample preparation unit and a software module was developed measuring size, moved distance, and speed of bacteria. In a proof of principle study the movement velocities of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 during three batch fermentation processes were investigated. In this process the bacteria went through different metabolic states, vegetative growth, diauxic shift, vegetative growth after diauxic shift, and sporulation. It was shown that the movement velocities during the different metabolic states significantly differ from each other. Therefore, the described setup has the potential to be used as a bacteria viability monitoring tool. In contrast to some other techniques, such as electro-optical techniques, this method can even be used in turbid production media.
authors: Institute for Process Control and Innovative Energy Conversion, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Ziegler
authors: Institute for Process Control and Innovative Energy Conversion, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Schock-Kusch
authors: Institute for Process Control and Innovative Energy Conversion, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Dominik
authors: D
authors: Bopp
authors: Department of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Berlin University of Technology, Berlin, Germany; Research Institute for Special Microbiology, Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing in Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Dounia
authors: Institute for Process Control and Innovative Energy Conversion, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Rädle
authors: Department of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Berlin University of Technology, Berlin, Germany; Research Institute for Special Microbiology, Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing in Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Stahl
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D005407:Flagella; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009068:Movement; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical