Cultivation conditions and the diffusion of oxygen into culture media: The rationale for the flask-to-medium ratio in microbiology

Greg A. Somerville, Richard A. Proctor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bacterial cultivation requires consideration of three things: The bacterial strain, cultivation medium, and cultivation conditions. Most microbiologists dutifully report their choice of strains and cultivation media in manuscripts; however, these same microbiologists often overlook reporting cultivation conditions. Without this information, it is difficult to determine if cultures were grown aerobically, microaerobically, or anaerobically. To cultivate bacteria aerobically, it is necessary to understand that oxygen does not readily diffuse into culture media; it needs help to get in. Microbiologists can do this by altering the flask-to-medium ratio, rpm of agitation, and/or the concentration of atmospheric oxygen, or by using baffled flasks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number9
JournalBMC microbiology
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Aeration
  • Cultivation conditions
  • Oxygen diffusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Microbiology (medical)

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