The impact of fluid mechanical stress on Corynebacterium glutamicum during continuous cultivation in an agitated bioreactor.

The effect of mechanical stresses generated by an extreme agitation intensity or a high aeration rate on growth parameters and cell physiology were studied during continuous cultivation of the Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum. It is concluded that variations in agitation, aeration rate, or dO2 concentrations down to about 1% of saturation do not damage the bacterial cells or cause a significant change in physiological response, as measured by flow cytometry, even though the cell size was slightly reduced.