Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

, Volume 90, Issue 1, pp 321–330 | Cite as

A novel conico-cylindrical flask aids easy identification of critical process parameters for cultivation of marine bacteria

  • Sayani Mitra
  • Sreyashi Sarkar
  • Ratan Gachhui
  • Joydeep Mukherjee
Methods and Protocols
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) conico-cylindrical flask (CCF) with an inner arrangement consisting of eight equidistantly spaced rectangular strips mounted radially on a circular disk to provide additional surface area for microbial attachment and ports to allow air supply was employed for melanin production by Shewanella colwelliana and antibiotic production by Pseudoalteromonas rubra. The design allowed comparison of production between (1) CCF with hydrophobic surface (PMMA-CCF), (2) CCF with hydrophilic glass surface (GS-CCF), and (3) standard unbaffled Erlenmeyer flask (EF). Melanin production in the PMMA-CCF was higher by at most 33.5% and growth of S. colwelliana by at most 309.2% compared to the other vessels. Melanin synthesis was positively correlated with reactor surface area and hydrophobicity, suspended cell growth, and biofilm formation. Antibiotic production in the EF was higher by at most 83.3%, but growth of P. rubra was higher in the PMMA-CCF by at most 54.5% compared to the other vessels. A hydrophilic vessel surface, abundant air supply, but low shear stress enhanced antibiotic production. The CCF together with the EF allowed identification of the crucial parameters (vessel surface characteristics, growth, biofilm formation, and aeration) influencing productivity, knowledge of which in the initial stages of process development will facilitate informed decisions at the later phases.

Keywords

Polymethylmethacrylate Melanin Pseudoalteromonas rubra Hydrophilic Hydrophobic Biofilm 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

Financial support to JM, RG (DBT Sanction No. BT/PR11479/AAQ/03/423/2008 and DST-PURSE, 2009-10), and to SS (CSIR No. 09/096-0549-2K8-EMR-I) is thankfully acknowledged.

Supplementary material

253_2010_3041_MOESM1_ESM.doc (41 kb)
Supplementary file 1 Schematic of the conico-cylindrical flask (CCF). 1 Air in; 2 air out; 3 screw cap; 4 upper funnel portion; 5 threading; 6 inner arrangement; 7, 8, 9 rectangular strips of inner arrangement; 10 lower cylindrical portion; 11 base of inner arrangement; 12 top view of inner arrangement with cylindrical base (reproduced with permission from Elsevier). (DOC 41 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sayani Mitra
    • 1
  • Sreyashi Sarkar
    • 1
  • Ratan Gachhui
    • 2
  • Joydeep Mukherjee
    • 1
  1. 1.School of Environmental StudiesJadavpur UniversityKolkataIndia
  2. 2.Department of Life Science and BiotechnologyJadavpur UniversityKolkataIndia

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