Cultivating the uncultured.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 99(24): 15681-6, 2002 Nov 26.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12438682
ABSTRACT
The recent application of molecular phylogeny to environmental samples has resulted in the discovery of an abundance of unique and previously unrecognized microorganisms. The vast majority of this microbial diversity has proved refractory to cultivation. Here, we describe a universal method that provides access to this immense reservoir of untapped microbial diversity. This technique combines encapsulation of cells in gel microdroplets for massively parallel microbial cultivation under low nutrient flux conditions, followed by flow cytometry to detect microdroplets containing microcolonies. The ability to grow and study previously uncultured organisms in pure culture will enhance our understanding of microbial physiology and metabolic adaptation and will provide new sources of microbial metabolites. We show that this technology can be applied to samples from several different environments, including seawater and soil.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bacteria
/
Bacteriological Techniques
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2002
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States