| 摘要 |
<p>A technique, apparatus and cassettes are provided wherein, in a preferred predictive format, bacterial colonies are allowed to form as spheres within gelatin gel unhindered by any surface or contstraints of nutrient or oxygen limitation. Using fixed angle laser light scattering in order to determine continuously the increase in diameter of the bacterial colonies within the gel cassettes, computations translate the data and derive the increase in the number of viable bacteria within the colonies continuously with time, and this is used to determine the growth rate of the bacteria. Such technique allows the effect of various agents on bacterial numbers and growth to be automatically monitored. Maintained gradient cassettes are also provided that allow a gradient of a particularly agent or condition, eg. pH, to be set up for the purpose of determining the profile of the effect of the condition on microorganisms.</p> |
