Gene-targeted microfluidic cultivation validated by isolation of a gut bacterium listed in Human Microbiome Project's Most Wanted taxa.

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a microfluidics-based workflow for genetically targeted isolation and cultivation of microorganisms from complex clinical samples. Data sets from high-throughput sequencing suggest the existence of previously unidentified bacterial taxa and functional genes with high biomedical importance. Obtaining isolates of these targets, preferably in pure cultures, is crucial for advancing understanding of microbial genetics and physiology and enabling physical access to microbes for further applications. However, the majority of microbes have not been cultured, due in part to the difficulties of both identifying proper growth conditions and characterizing and isolating each species. We describe a method that enables genetically targeted cultivation of microorganisms through a co

SUBMITTER: Ma L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4103313 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature