Screening of microorganisms for bioremediation
AssigneeMolecular Solutions
InventorStevan B. Jovanovich
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to the application of robotics to screen and optimize microorganisms for their bioremediation capabilities. In particular, the present invention provides methods to screen for the ability of microorganisms to metabolize particular compounds of interest in bioremediation applications. The present invention also provides a method for discovery of microorganisms useful for bioremediation and biomining, as well as other applications where microbial metabolism is useful for catalyzing chemical biotransformations.
Claims32
An automated method for screening microorganisms capable of detoxifying a compound, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing:
- i. a plurality of samples in a pair of final holders having separate vessels, each final holder separating the samples into said vessels, said samples suspected of containing microorganisms,
- ii. a chemical compound, and
- iii. an automated workstation;
- b. exposing said samples to said chemical compound to form test samples in said final holders;
- and
- c. performing at least one of a plurality of assay methods on said test samples to generate test output data, wherein said automated workstation performs said assay methods.
A method of creating a growth curve while screening for microorganisms capable of detoxifying a compound, comprising the steps of:
- a. i) an automated workstation;
- ii) at least one chemical compound;
- and iii) at least one sample;
- b. measuring the optical density of at least one test sample;
- c. calculating a growth curve for said microorganisms based on said optical density;
- and
- d. performing operations on said test sample during said calculation step.
The method as recited in 12 wherein said automated workstation is a BioMek 1000.
A method for screening microorganisms capable of detoxifying one or more compounds, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing:
- i) at least one sample suspected of containing said microorganisms;
- and
- ii) at least one chemical compound;
- and
- iii) an automated workstation;
- b) exposing said sample to said chemical compound to produce a test sample;
- and
- c) assaying said test sample for the presence of said chemical compound, wherein said assaying is performed by said automated workstation.
A method of creating a growth curve for microorganisms capable of detoxifying a compound, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing:
- i) a sample suspected of containing said microorganisms;
- and
- ii) at least one chemical compound;
- and
- iii) an automated workstation;
- b) exposing said sample to said chemical compound to provide a test sample;
- c) measuring the optical density of said test sample to provide an optical density determination, wherein said measuring is performed by said automated workstation;
- and
- d) calculating a growth curve for said microorganisms from said optical density determination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.