METABOLIC RATE INDICATOR FOR CELLULAR POPULATIONS

• US 20110207111A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bradley, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,631,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/3
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/46 of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/02 involving viable microorganisms

Abstract

Described and claimed is a novel system and method for monitoring the metabolic rate of a cellular population in an industrial process. The invention includes obtaining a sample of the cellular population and initiating a reaction between a metabolic component of the cellular population and a bioreporter. The reaction produces a detectable metabolic signal which is measured and analyzed to determine a metabolic rate of the cellular population. In preferred embodiments, a controller is operable to provide prompts to a user and/or automate various steps of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a metabolic rate of a cellular population, the method comprising:

(a) providing a controller, wherein the controller is operable to track changes in a parameter;

(b) providing a signal detector in communication with the controller and operable to detect a metabolic signal;

(c) providing a vessel capable of holding or being associated with at least the following items;

(i) a sample containing the cellular population, (ii) a bioreporter that is capable of directly or indirectly generating the metabolic signal, and (iii) the signal detector;

(d) combining the sample and the bioreporter in the vessel by adding in any order, including in phases, the sample and the bioreporter to the vessel, wherein adding the sample and/or the bioreporter to the vessel causes the parameter to change;

(e) optionally combining an additive with the sample and/or the bioreporter at any time before or during step (d), including in phases, wherein combining the additive with the sample and/or the bioreporter causes the parameter to change;

(f) optionally tracking changes in the parameter during or after steps (d) to (e);

(g) detecting the metabolic signal with the signal detector at least once during step (d) or step (e) and/or at least once after step (d) or step (e);

(h) determining the metabolic rate of the cellular population based upon the metabolic signals detected in step (g);

(i) optionally recording the parameter changes tracked in step (f); and

(j) optionally recording the metabolic signal detected in step (g); and

(k) optionally recording the metabolic rate determined in step (h)

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter and/or changes thereto is tracked and/or recorded in real-time or substantially real-time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metabolic signal and/or changes thereto is detected, tracked, and/or recorded in real-time or substantially real-time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metabolic rate and/or changes thereto is tracked and/or recorded in real-time or substantially real-time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is weight and the controller is in communication with a gravimetric device and is operable in step (f) to track weights of the sample, the bioreporter, and/or the additive and/or changes in weight of matter held within the vessel caused by addition thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is volume and the controller is in communication with a volumetric device and is operable in step (0 to track volumes of the sample, the bioreporter, and/or the additive and/or changes in volume of matter within the vessel caused by addition thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises, in order:

(i) adding the sample containing the cellular population to the vessel while recording changes in the parameter and (ii) adding the bioreporter to the vessel while tracking changes in the parameter and detecting the metabolic signal;

or (i) adding the bioreporter to the vessel while tracking changes in the parameter and (ii) adding the sample to the vessel while tracking changes in the parameter and detecting the metabolic signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular population is selected from the group consisting of:

bacteria, archae, protists, microscopic animals, fungi, yeast, microscopic plants, animal cells, and any combination of the foregoing.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising an interactive user interface in communication with the controller and operable to guide a user to initiate and/or perform any one or more of steps (a) to (k), in any order, through a series of visual and/or audible prompts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to initiate and/or perform any one or more of steps (a) to (k) on-line and/or automatically.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample of the cellular population is obtained via a manually operated or an automatically operated sampler or sidestream apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising using at least one of the following means to initiate and/or perform one or more of steps (d) and/or (e):

a manually operated liquid handling device;

an automatic liquid handling device;

a mobile sample processing station;

any combination of the foregoing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel and the signal detector are part of an integral unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bioreporter is selected from the group consisting of:

one reagent in one solution;

more than one reagent in one solution;

more than one reagent each reagent in a separate solution;

one reagent in one dry form;

more than one reagent in one dry form;

more than one reagent each reagent in a separate dry form; and

any combination of the foregoing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample containing the cellular population undergoes separation and resuspension and/or the sample containing the cellular population is diluted.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the metabolic signal is detectable using methods selected from the group consisting of:

colorimetry, refractometry, spectrophotometry, luminometry, fluorometry, and any combination of the foregoing.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal detector is positioned inside or outside the vessel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal detector is further operable to detect turbidity and/or temperature and determining the metabolic rate of the cellular population based upon the metabolic signal includes a corrective function for turbidity and/or temperature.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating any one or more of the steps of the method over a network.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the network is an intranet, extranet, and/or the Internet.

21. A system operable to determine a metabolic rate of a cellular population, the system comprising:

(a) a controller;

(b) an optional gravimetric device in communication with the controller and/or an optional volumetric device in communication with the controller;

(c) a means of collecting a sample of the cellular population;

(d) a bioreporter capable of reacting with a metabolic component of the cellular population in the sample to generate a metabolic signal;

(e) a signal detector operable to detect the metabolic signal and in communication with the controller;

(f) a vessel capable of holding or being associated with at least the following items;

(i) the sample of the cellular population, (ii) the bioreporter, and (iii) the signal detector; and

(g) a user interface in communication with the controller

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the gravimetric device is operable to track changes in weight of the vessel and its contained matter and/or changes in weight of containers that hold the sample, the bioreporter, and/or the additive and their contained matter.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the volumetric device is operable to track changes in volume of matter within the vessel and/or changes in volumes of matter in containers holding the sample, the bioreporter, and/or the additive.