Track growth curve

MPD-7. Visualize growth curves in real-time with BactoBox®.

Skill level	Time to complete (E. coli)	Hands-on time	HW requirement
Basic microbiology	8 hours	4 hours	7.6a

Access lets you instantly add metadata about your sample. With the computer as input device, you can interact with familiar BactoBox® buttons on your screen. Growth curves are generated with ease when you add information on dilution factors and sampling time.

In this step-by-step example we will demonstrate how to track growth curves. We'll use a straightforward example with E. coli in a shake flask. At 37 °C, E. coli has a generation time, g, of ~20 min in LB medium. We will sample at g x 1.5, that is a sample for every 30 min.

Notice that you will collect samples every 30 minutes for ~8 hours. This requires that you set aside a full lab day for the experiment if you are working with E. coli. Understanding the lag phase duration, growth rates, and carrying capacity can significantly enhance your fermentation process design. Trust us; it will be worth it!

Here’s how the results will appear after measurements are completed.

The overall steps are shown below. Click the links to jump to the relevant section.

1. Get things ready

2. Create measurement group

3. Check growth medium

4. Measure starter culture

5. Inoculate

6. 1:100 dilution post-inoculation

7. 1:100 dilutions

8. 1:10 000 dilutions

9. Conclude growth curve