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A Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Bacterial Chemotaxis in Stable Concentration Gradients
Published on: April 19, 2010
Studies of bacterial aerotaxis in a microfluidic device
Micha Adler1, Michael Erickstad, Edgar Gutierrez
1Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0374, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|September 27, 2012
Summary
Bacteria movement towards oxygen (aerotaxis) was studied in Escherichia coli using a novel microfluidic device. Results show E. coli prefers the highest available oxygen levels, not intermediate concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Aerotaxis, the directed movement of bacteria in oxygen gradients, is crucial for microbial life.
- Quantitative studies have been hindered by challenges in creating stable oxygen concentration gradients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize a novel experimental setup for precise control and generation of stable oxygen gradients.
- To quantitatively investigate the aerotactic behavior of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in defined oxygen landscapes.
Main Methods:
- A computer-controlled gas mixer and a two-layer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device were employed.
- Stable linear oxygen gradients were generated, ranging from aerobic to microaerobic conditions.
- High-throughput analysis (>10(5) cells/hour) of E. coli distribution within the oxygen gradients was performed.
Main Results:
- E. coli demonstrated a preference for the highest accessible oxygen concentration within the tested gradients (0 to ~11.5%).
- This behavior contrasts with some previous reports suggesting aggregation at intermediate oxygen levels.
- The study successfully generated and utilized precise oxygen gradients for bacterial behavior analysis.
Conclusions:
- The developed technology enables robust quantitative studies of bacterial aerotaxis.
- E. coli exhibits positive aerotaxis, actively seeking out environments with the highest available oxygen.
- This platform is applicable to diverse aerobic and microaerobic bacterial species.
