Device and method for the detection of microorganisms which produce low-molecular-weight metabolites
First Claim
1. A method for detecting microorganisms which produce a low-molecular-weight metabolite having a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 from a substance capable of being metabolized by the microorganisms being detected comprising the steps of:
- growing microorganisms on a support;
applying to the microorganisms grown on the support the substance in radioactively labeled form;
covering the support having the grown microorganisms and the labeled substance with a semipermeable medium, the semipermeable medium being permeable to the low molecular weight metabolite but not to the labeled substance;
positioning an adsorption medium adjacent the semipermeable medium so as to be exposed to the metabolite passing therethrough, the adsorption medium being able to effectively absorb the metabolite;
incubating in combination the support having the grown microorganisms and the labeled substance, the semipermeable medium, and the adsorption medium to produce from the labeled substance a detectable amount of radioactively labeled metabolite if the microorganisms which produce the metabolite are present on the support; and
analyzing the adsorption medium to detect the presence of the radioactively labeled metabolite.
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Abstract
Selective detection of microorganisms is achieved by a screening technique in which radioactively labeled, low-molecular-weight metabolites produced by microorganisms to be detected reach an adsorption medium through a semipermeable medium which passes the labeled metabolites but blocks the labeled incubation medium. The adsorption medium is then subject to analysis, such as antoradiography, to detect the presence of the labeled metabolites. An analytical assembly for such detection includes a filter membrane support for growing microorganisms in discrete colonies and for holding a radioactively labeled incubating medium applied thereon, a semipermeable filter medium covering the support having the grown microorganisms and the incubating medium for passing low-molecular-weight, labeled metabolites produced by microorganisms of interest while blocking the incubating medium, and a cohesive layer of an adsorption medium conformably disposed with the filter membrane support and the semipermeable medium and being capable of adsorbing the labeled metabolites which have traversed the semipermeable medium during incubation of the assembly. Following incubation of the assembly, the adsorption medium layer is transferable for analysis, e.g., by autoradiography, to detect the presence of labeled metabolites produced by microorganisms of interest and to identify specific colonies of the microorganisms producing the radioactively labeled metabolite.
6 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for detecting microorganisms which produce a low-molecular-weight metabolite having a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 from a substance capable of being metabolized by the microorganisms being detected comprising the steps of:
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growing microorganisms on a support; applying to the microorganisms grown on the support the substance in radioactively labeled form; covering the support having the grown microorganisms and the labeled substance with a semipermeable medium, the semipermeable medium being permeable to the low molecular weight metabolite but not to the labeled substance; positioning an adsorption medium adjacent the semipermeable medium so as to be exposed to the metabolite passing therethrough, the adsorption medium being able to effectively absorb the metabolite; incubating in combination the support having the grown microorganisms and the labeled substance, the semipermeable medium, and the adsorption medium to produce from the labeled substance a detectable amount of radioactively labeled metabolite if the microorganisms which produce the metabolite are present on the support; and analyzing the adsorption medium to detect the presence of the radioactively labeled metabolite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
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6. The method of claim 6, wherein the low-molecular-weight metabolite is carbon dioxide and the adsorption medium comprises lime.
Specification