Growth of Neisseria meningitidis in a BMG LABTECH microplate reader with Atmospheric Control Unit (ACU)

Kerry L. Cutter University of the West of England, Bristol 03/2007

It is well known that organisms need a certain, but not necessarily a similar, level of carbon dioxide for growth and reproduction. The period during which this level is being increased corresponds to the lag phase as the organism is unable to divide until the critical concentration of CO2 is reached. Neisseria meningitidis is considered to require or benefit from a concentration of CO2 greater than atmospheric, hence, being a suitable organism to study CO2 effects.


A strain of Neisseria meningitidis was used to assess the efficiency of a BMG LABTECH multi-mode plate reader coupled with an Atmospheric Control Unit (ACU) to deliver 5% CO2. Growth was determined by absorbance at 405 nm and compared to data obtained on a microplate reader without ACU.


The BMG LABTECH plate reader with ACU is able to achieve and sustain a level of CO2 required for such a fastidious organism or for cell cultures.

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