Dynamics of Electrical Resistance of Kombucha Zoogleal Mats

Abstract

We demonstrate that zoogleal mats of kombucha exhibit spikes of electrical resistance. A kombucha is a sugared tea fermented by a symbiotic community of over 20 species of bacteria and yeasts which produce cellulosic gelatinous zoogleal mats. We recorded electrical resistance of the zoogleal mats via platinum electrodes placed at a distance 1 cm of each other. We found that the mats show temporal variations in electrical resistance in a range 0.13–0.19[Formula: see text]M[Formula: see text]. We discovered spikes of the mats resistance morphologically similar to action potential spikes. Average duration of a resistance spike is 1.8[Formula: see text]min, average amplitude is 2.2[Formula: see text]k[Formula: see text]. Average interval between resistance spikes is c. 20[Formula: see text]min. The discovered resistive spiking of kombucha mats might indicate on their memfractive properties, and thus, open pathways towards prototyping neuromorphic devices with living zoogleal mats.