Hello microbiology researchers working with Ralstonia eutropha. The organism we have created contains two genes that allow R. eutropha to ferment hemp and produce P4HB. When we began the culture of the genetically modified R. eutropha in the bioreactor, it began producing these unidentified spheres. Please see attached files. They are very uniform, we've re-created them and are rather sure it is not contamination, although they look fungal in nature. Has anyone seen this phenomenon before? The spheres are quite large, easily detectable by the naked eye. Please let us know whether this is a previously described phenomenon.
Oadi Matny Yes that was a definite consideration. I requested the experimenter ensure aseptic technique, and the spheres continue to form. If we exclude fungal contamination, is there any other possibility?
What you can do is culturing it on PDA with antibiotics to confirm it is a fungi, Also you should use another autoclave to sterilized your media and be sure that is not sterilization issue.
-Check your stock culture that you use to inoculated your media if it is possible it is contaminated.
- If you confirm the contamination is fungi you can use cycloheximide to inhibit any fungi contamination from your culture and re-purify your bacteria culture, you should do this stab on agar media+ cycloheximide .
hope these suggestions will help
Dear Ms. Veronica Cojocari : I have handled many fungal strains (natural/mutated/Genetically modified) and in some cases the mutated strain forms pellets and the photos show that your strain Ralstonia eutropha forms `loose pellets' and I am sure that it is NOT because of contamination. The pellet formation is because of quick cell division which leads to pellet formation. So, don't worry definitely it is not contamination. Those who have handled mutated Penicillium strains for the production of Penicillin antibiotic would know about pellet formation.
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