AIMS: To develop a flexible and fast colony forming unit quantification method that can be operated in a standard microbiology laboratory. METHODS AND RESULTS: A miniaturized plating method is reported where droplets of bacterial cultures are spotted on agar plates. Subsequently, minicolony spots are imaged with a digital camera and quantified using a dedicated plug-in developed for the freeware program IMAGEJ. A comparison between conventional and minicolony plating of industrial micro-organisms including lactic acid bacteria, Eschericha coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that there was no significant difference in the results obtained with the methods. CONCLUSIONS: The presented method allows downscaling of plating by 100-fold, is flexible, easy-to-use and is more labour-efficient and cost-efficient than conventional plating methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method can be used for rapid assessment of viable counts of micro-organisms similar to conventional plating using standard laboratory equipment. It is faster and cheaper than conventional plating methods.
AIMS: To develop a flexible and fast colony forming unit quantification method that can be operated in a standard microbiology laboratory. METHODS AND RESULTS: A miniaturized plating method is reported where droplets of bacterial cultures are spotted on agar plates. Subsequently, minicolony spots are imaged with a digital camera and quantified using a dedicated plug-in developed for the freeware program IMAGEJ. A comparison between conventional and minicolony plating of industrial micro-organisms including lactic acid bacteria, Eschericha coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that there was no significant difference in the results obtained with the methods. CONCLUSIONS: The presented method allows downscaling of plating by 100-fold, is flexible, easy-to-use and is more labour-efficient and cost-efficient than conventional plating methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method can be used for rapid assessment of viable counts of micro-organisms similar to conventional plating using standard laboratory equipment. It is faster and cheaper than conventional plating methods.
Authors: Annereinou R Dijkstra; Meily C Setyawati; Jumamurat R Bayjanov; Wynand Alkema; Sacha A F T van Hijum; Peter A Bron; Jeroen Hugenholtz Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2013-11-08 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: I-Chiao Lee; Graziano Caggianiello; Iris I van Swam; Nico Taverne; Marjolein Meijerink; Peter A Bron; Giuseppe Spano; Michiel Kleerebezem Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2016-06-13 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Hermien van Bokhorst-van de Veen; Tjakko Abee; Marcel Tempelaars; Peter A Bron; Michiel Kleerebezem; Maria L Marco Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2011-06-24 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Matthew L Clarke; Robert L Burton; A Nayo Hill; Maritoni Litorja; Moon H Nahm; Jeeseong Hwang Journal: Cytometry A Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 4.355
Authors: Ryan A Ferris; Patrick M McCue; Grace I Borlee; Kristen D Loncar; Margo L Hennet; Bradley R Borlee Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2015-12-30 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Sander Sieuwerts; Douwe Molenaar; Sacha A F T van Hijum; Marke Beerthuyzen; Marc J A Stevens; Patrick W M Janssen; Colin J Ingham; Frank A M de Bok; Willem M de Vos; Johan E T van Hylckama Vlieg Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2010-10-01 Impact factor: 4.792