Automated Modular High Throughput Exopolysaccharide Screening Platform Coupled with Highly Sensitive Carbohydrate...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Microorganisms produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) with diverse applications in medicine, food, and industry.
• Efficient methods are needed to identify and characterize novel microbial EPS producers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe an automated, high-throughput analytical platform for the rapid analysis of microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS).
• To enable the identification of novel microbial EPS producers and detailed characterization of their carbohydrate fingerprints.

Main Methods:

• A modular, automated liquid handling system platform combining multiple polysaccharide detection modules.
• Automated screening includes viscosity, polymer precipitation, and total carbohydrate assays (phenol-sulfuric acid).
• Detailed analysis involves UHPLC-UV-ESI-MS for monosaccharide composition and enzymatic assay for pyruvate content.

Main Results:

• The platform allows screening of up to 384 strains per run for EPS production.
• Enables rapid identification of novel EPS-producing microorganisms and analysis of their carbohydrate profiles.
• Provides flexibility for customized analysis of EPS type and quantity.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform offers a fast, reliable, and flexible solution for high-throughput screening of microbial exopolysaccharides.
• Facilitates the discovery of new EPS-producing strains and detailed polymer characterization for various applications.
• Supports strain collection screening and engineered variant libraries.