The BiMM utilizes a continuous method using several pieces of equipment to combine microorganisms and to analyze their bioactive molecular metabolites. Each section of the method is adaptable and accessible to external users. The method comprises 1) assembly of assays in MTPs with inoculation and incubation, 2) amplification of plates and 3) continuous growth assays. Microbial cultures growing in liquid or on solid are added to media with variable ingredients (e.g. antifungals, antibiotics, stress factors, small molecules). We have developed methods to quantify growth of filamentous fungi (Canovas et al.), Arabidopsis and other target organisms.
Incubation can be combined with spectroscopy using an automatic incubator and robotic arm in sync with a multiwell Spectrometer. Microbial growth is measured in parallel with 42 plates. Possible readouts include absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence. Therefore, detection of many parameters can be performed; from enzyme activities to gene expression in vivo
Cánovas D, Studt L, Marcos AT, Strauss J. High-throughput format for the phenotyping of fungi on solid substrates. Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 27;7(1):4289. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03598-9. PMID: 28655890 Free PMC article.
Beyer R, Spettel K, Zeller I, Lass-Flörl C, Achleitner D, Krause R, Apfalter P, Buzina W, Strauss J, Gregori C, Schüller C, Willinger B. Antifungal susceptibility of yeast bloodstream isolates collected during a 10-year period in Austria. Mycoses. 2019 Apr;62(4):357-367. doi: 10.1111/myc.12892. Epub 2019 Feb 20. PMID: 30636016.
Zangl I, Beyer R, Pap IJ, Strauss J, Aspöck C, Willinger B, Schüller C. Human Pathogenic Candida Species Respond Distinctively to Lactic Acid Stress. J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Dec 8;6(4):348. doi: 10.3390/jof6040348. PMID: 33302409; PMCID: PMC7762603.
