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Microcalorimetric study of the growth of Enterococcus faecalis in an enriched culture medium

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Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacteria, considered one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. Bacterial cultures produce an exchange of energy as a result of the bacteria metabolisms. The rate of heat production is an adequate measure of the metabolic activity of the organisms and their constituent parts. Microorganisms produce small amounts of heat: 1–3 pW per cell. Although the heat produced by bacteria is very small, their exponential reproduction in a culture medium permits heat detection through microcalorimetry. In this study, we analyzed the microcalorimetric behavior of Enterococcus faecalis. A thermal Calvet microcalorimeter was used. The inside of the calorimeter contains two stainless steel cells (experimental and reference). Experiments were carried out at final concentrations of 106,105,103, and 10 CFU/mL and a constant temperature of 309.65 K was maintained within the microcalorimeter. Recording the difference in calorific potential over time we obtained E. faecalis’s growth curves. Thermograms were analyzed mathematically allowing us to calculate the constant growth, generation time and the amount of heat exchanged over the culture time.

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Acknowledgements

We thank María Perfecta Salgado González and Sofia Baz Rodríguez for their collaboration with the technical measures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Farmacia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (Xeral-Cíes), c/Pizarro no. 22, 36202, Vigo, Spain

    Natividad Lago Rivero & Isaac Arias Santos

  2. Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Ciencias Experimentais, Universidade de Vigo, Lagoas Marcosende s/n, 36310, Vigo, Spain

    José L. Legido Soto & Lidia M. Casás

Authors
  1. Natividad Lago Rivero
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  2. José L. Legido Soto
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  3. Lidia M. Casás
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  4. Isaac Arias Santos
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Correspondence to Natividad Lago Rivero.

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Rivero, N.L., Legido Soto, J.L., Casás, L.M. et al. Microcalorimetric study of the growth of Enterococcus faecalis in an enriched culture medium. J Therm Anal Calorim 108, 665–670 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-2052-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-2052-1

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