Hello,
recently we have been working with the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) and noticed, in shake flask culture cultured on an orbital shaker at 100 rpm, spherical cells and no spirulate cells typical for the organism. Is it possible that shear forces generated by the rotation could separate the multi cellular spirals into an unicellular spheroid form? Has anyone ever noticed the same? I have searched the literature and couldn't find any mention of this phenomenon.
Thanks in advance and kind regards,
Marius Tölle
Nataliya Rybalka I have added a picture. This is the best I could do with the camera we are currently using. The cells are between 2-5 micrometers small, often in chains of between 2 and 5 cells at once, as seen in the picture I posted.
The picture was taken of a culture in Zarrouk's Medium.
The cells are non-motile and sink to the ground after a short period of time, which is a feature seen in no other microalgae cultures we have. We are working with Dunaliella and Tetraselmis too, but the cells in the spirulina culture look and act nothing like the other species do, so I don't think there is a contamination at play. The culture was ordered from the SAG.
It is not Arthrospira. It is a green alga (one could see chloroplasts), so you have a contamination problem. We could discuss further details (reasons, solutions) in private chat if you are interested.
Ive been working on Athrosphira (Spirulina) and now Limnospira. I havent observed any of this morphological variation even if you used force it wont be in this case. Probably a contamination, but im doubtful since Zarrouk medium has high pH so no other microalgae/microbes cant withstand unless that microbes can withstand such high alkalinity. Its seem interesting.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biochemistry
- Biochemical Techniques
- Analytical Chemistry
- pH