A novel membrane reactor design for controlled studies of interacting populations (simulation of the interaction between microorganism and plant suspension cultures).

The design of a reactor in which two interacting cell populations (microorganisms and plants) could grow under controlled conditions was considered. In this reactor, the cell populations are separated by a membrane which permits semi-in vivo study of induced interaction-specific changes in metabolism. In this paper, the interaction of suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) and the Oomycete, Phytophthora nicotiana was simulated. The results of the computer simulation show the induced metabolic changes as a consequence of the biological interaction. The paper introduces a novel approach in the strategy for the study of interacting population in suspension cultures. This type of system has potential applications in studies of the regulation of secondary metabolism and for the production of high values pharmaceuticals. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 55: 609-615, 1997.