Application of an improved continuous parallel shaken bioreactor system for three microbial model systems

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Microbial Fermentation

Background:

• Shaken bioreactors offer simplicity, while continuous fermentation allows steady-state control.
• Integrating these systems presents an opportunity for enhanced bioprocess monitoring and optimization.
• Accurate geometric precision in bioreactor design is crucial for reproducible results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a continuous parallel shaken bioreactor system for microbial studies.
• To assess the system's performance in predicting microbial growth and metabolite formation.
• To compare the efficiency of the new system with conventional bioreactors.

Main Methods:

• A novel quartz glass continuous parallel shaken bioreactor with <1 mm geometric accuracy was manufactured.
• Facultative anaerobic bacterium *C. glutamicum* and Crabtree-negative yeast *P. stipitis* were used as model systems.
• The system's performance was compared to a conventional 1-L bioreactor using *S. cerevisiae*.

Main Results:

• The transition from non-oxygen to limited conditions was precisely predicted based on dilution rate.
• The continuous parallel shaken bioreactor yielded comparable results to conventional bioreactors.
• The new system provided more data points in less time and consumed significantly less culture media.

Conclusions:

• The continuous parallel shaken bioreactor system effectively combines advantages of shaken and continuous fermentation.
• The system allows for precise prediction of microbial behavior under varying oxygen availability and dilution rates.
• This technology offers a more efficient and resource-sparing approach for microbial fermentation research.