Expert Microbial Isolation & Screening Service: Accelerate Your Discovery

Microbial Isolation

• Sample Processing and Preparation
  
  • Samples Types

• Culturing Techniques
  
  • Solid Media Plating
  • Liquid Media Enrichment: Using selective liquid media to promote the growth of specific types of microorganisms while inhibiting others.
• Pure Culture Isolation
  
  • Subculturing: Once isolated colonies are obtained on solid media, a single colony is aseptically transferred to a fresh sterile medium (either solid or liquid) to establish a pure culture.
  • Anaerobic/Microaerophilic Isolation: Utilizing specialized techniques and media to isolate microorganisms that grow in the absence or reduced presence of oxygen.

Microbial Screening

• Phenotypic Screening
  
  • Morphological Characterization: Examining colony morphology and cellular morphology using microscopy and staining techniques (e.g., Gram staining).
  • Biochemical Characterization: Performing various biochemical tests to determine the metabolic capabilities of the isolates.
  • Growth Requirements: Determining optimal growth conditions such as temperature, pH, and nutrient requirements.
  • Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing: Assessing the resistance or susceptibility of bacterial isolates to a panel of antibiotics.
  • Biofilm Formation Assays: Evaluating the ability of microorganisms to form biofilms.
• Activity-Based Screening
  
  • Antimicrobial Screening: Assessing the ability of microbial isolates to produce antimicrobial compounds against target pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses).
  • Enzyme Screening: Screening for the production of specific enzymes with potential industrial applications.
  • Bioremediation Potential Screening: Evaluating the ability of isolates to degrade pollutants.
  • Plant Growth Promotion Screening: Assessing the potential of isolates to enhance plant growth through mechanisms like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, or production of plant hormones.
  • Biosensor Development Screening: Identifying microorganisms with specific responses to target analytes for biosensor applications.
• High-Throughput Screening (HTS)
• Molecular Screening
  
  • DNA Sequencing: Determining the nucleotide sequence of specific genes or the entire genome.
  • Genotyping: Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) or repetitive element PCR to differentiate microbial strains.

Optional/Additional Services

• Microbial Identification: Advanced identification of isolates using phenotypic and/or genotypic methods (e.g., MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, 16S rRNA gene sequencing).
• Strain Preservation: Long-term storage of isolated strains using methods like cryopreservation or lyophilization.
• Custom Assay Development: Developing novel screening assays tailored to specific client requirements.
• Scale-up and Optimization Studies: Further investigation and optimization of the activity of promising isolates.

Data Analysis and Reporting

We thoroughly analyze screening data and identification results to provide a comprehensive report.

Deliverables

Turnaround Time

Given the variability, it's difficult to provide a precise timeframe. However, here are some general ranges:

• Small-scale projects with basic isolation and a few simple screening assays: 4-8 weeks.
• Projects involving isolation of specific or slow-growing microorganisms and/or more complex screening assays: 2-6 months or longer.
• High-throughput screening projects: 3-9 months or longer, depending on the library size and the complexity of the assays.