Individually addressable arrays of replica microbial cultures enabled by splitting SlipChips.

ABSTRACT: Isolating microbes carrying genes of interest from environmental samples is important for applications in biology and medicine. However, this involves the use of genetic assays that often require lysis of microbial cells, which is not compatible with the goal of obtaining live cells for isolation and culture. This paper describes the design, fabrication, biological validation, and underlying physics of a microfluidic SlipChip device that addresses this challenge. The device is composed of two conjoined plates containing 1000 microcompartments, each comprising two juxtaposed wells, one on each opposing plate. Single microbial cells are stochastically confined and subsequently cultured within the microcompartments. Then, we split each microcompartment into two replica droplets, both containi

SUBMITTER: Ma L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4131746 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature