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Developing Model Benchtop Systems for Microbial Experimental EvolutionUnderstanding how microbes impact an ecosystem has improved through advances of molecular and genetic tools, but creating complex systems that emulate natural biology goes beyond current technology. In fact, many chemical, biological, and metabolic pathways of even model organisms are still poorly characterized. Even then, standard laboratory techniques for testing microbial impact on environmental change can have many drawbacks; they are time-consuming, labor intensive, and are at risk of contamination. By having an automated process, many of these problems can be reduced or even eliminated. We are developing a benchtop system that can run for long periods of time without the need for human intervention, involve multiple environmental stressors at once, perform real-time adjustments of stressor exposure based on current state of the population, and minimize contamination risks. Our prototype device allows operators to generate an analogue of real world micro-scale ecosystems that can be used to model the effects of disruptive environmental change on microbial ecosystems. It comprises of electronics, mechatronics, and fluidics based systems to control, measure, and evaluate the before and after state of microbial cultures from exposure to environmental stressors. Currently, it uses four parallel growth chambers to perform tests on liquid cultures. To measure the population state, optical sensors (LED/photodiode) are used. Its primary selection pressure is UV-C radiation, a well-studied stressor known for its cell- and DNA-damaging effects and as a mutagen. Future work will involve improving the current growth chambers, as well as implementing additional sensors and environmental stressors into the system. Full integration of multiple culture testing will allow inter-culture comparisons. Besides the temperature and OD sensors, other types of sensors can be integrated such as conductivity, biomass, pH, and dissolved gasses such as CO and O. Additional environmental stressor systems like temperature (extreme heat or cold), metal toxicity, and other forms of radiation will increase the scale and testing range.
Document ID
20170012138
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wang, Jonathan
(Millennium Engineering and Integration Co. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Arismendi, Dillon
(City Coll. of San Francisco San Francisco, CA, United States)
Alvarez, Jennifer
(City Coll. of San Francisco San Francisco, CA, United States)
Ouandji, Cynthia
(San Jose State Univ. CA, United States)
Blaich, Justin
(Millennium Engineering and Integration Co. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Gentry, Diana
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
December 14, 2017
Publication Date
December 12, 2017
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN48702
B23D-2106
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2017 Fall Meeting
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 11, 2017
End Date: December 15, 2017
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA13AC87C
CONTRACT_GRANT: AMESVE1001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Use by or on behalf of the US Gov. Permitted.
Keywords
Developing
Benchtop Syste
Model
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