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Determining specific growth rates in different regions of Salmonella typhimurium colonies
Author(s) -
McKay A. L.,
Peters A. C.,
Wimpenny J. W. T.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1997.00354.x
Subject(s) - salmonella , exponential growth , biology , growth rate , optical density , inoculation , bacterial growth , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , mathematics , physics , optics , genetics , horticulture , mathematical analysis , geometry
Computer‐aided image analysis (IA) techniques were used to determine specific growth rates (μ) in different regions of Salmonella typhimurium colonies grown on solid medium at 30°C. Captured transmission images were converted to optical density values, allowing calculation of μ. Data show that growth was exponential throughout the colony during the period studied (between 13 and 21 h after inoculation), but that μ varied from 0·69 to 0·37 h −1 at the periphery and centre, respectively. Results demonstrate regional variation in μ values within colonies, and support conceptual models of colony development. The technique described illustrates that kinetic growth data can be derived within bacterial colonies, and this may lead towards an improved understanding of the growth dynamics of these structures.