Dual nutrient limited growth: models, experimental observations, and applications

Manfred Zinn1, Bernard Witholt, Thomas Egli

  • 1Biocompatible Materials, Swiss Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen. manfred.zinn@empa.ch

Journal of Biotechnology
|September 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

This survey explores dual nutrient limited growth in microorganisms, where two nutrients simultaneously affect growth rates and biomass. The authors review experimental observations and models that explain this phenomenon. They highlight the challenges in measuring residual nutrients and the importance of accurate experimental design. The study shows that dual limitation can manifest through changes in cell composition, metabolism, and storage compound accumulation. The authors conclude that dual nutrient limitation is an underappreciated but important aspect of microbial growth with potential applications in bioprocess engineering.

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