Co-incubating confined microbial communities

摘要

This invention provides devices and methods that enable co-incubation of microorganisms. Also provided are methods of making such devices for co-incubation of microorganisms, and various applications of such devices.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
(1) providing an ingestible capsule with a defined spatial structure, the ingestible capsule comprising a first compartment and a second compartment connected to the first compartment via a communication channel, wherein the first and second compartments are physically separated by a distance x; (2) placing a first individual type of microorganism in the first compartment; (3) placing a second individual type of microorganism in the second compartment, wherein the distance x both reduces competition between the first and second individual types of microorganisms and allows for exchange of information and/or substance between the first and second individual types of microorganisms; and (4) co-incubating the first individual type of microorganism in the first compartment and the second individual type of microorganism in the second compartment so that the first individual type of microorganism performs a function differently than it would if the second individual type of microorganism was absent.