One-Pot fermenter processing for the mass cultivation of predatory bacteria

Abstract

This study describes a novel one-pot fermentative process to mass-produce and cultivate Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 that reduces the complexity and time associated with currently employed methodologies, while also improving predatory yields. Scheme A, performed using typical HEPES-based methods, required several flasks and two days for growth of the prey and predator. In contrast, Scheme B had predation occurring in the same flask as the prey was grown without changing the media and required two days as well, while Scheme C had both bacterial species growing simultaneously in one flask and only took one day. The predatory yields in all three cases were comparable, 4.5 to 5.6x109 plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml, but Scheme C gave the best yields. Scheme C was adapted within a fermenter to give Scheme D, which improved the final yields further (7.0x109 PFU/ml), showing the successful development and application of a one-pot process to grow B. bacteriovorus HD100.