ISSN: 2471-9315
Enric Maroto Fernandez
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Appli Micro Open Access
This work presents a facile technique that employs flatbed scanners for the measurement of colony grayscale values. Use of grayscale conversion of sRGB-based color images simplifies initially complex three-dimensional color space attributes into a single dimension, allowing for a simplified approach to the detection and monitoring of colony chromogenesis. The performance of 4 often-used grayscale conversions is assessed using Letheen agar in combination with two chromogenic dyes, Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride (TTC) and Tetrazolium Violet (TV) in cultures of three model microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). The effects of different concentrations of the chromogens and the differences in color development over time are evaluated. Affordable approaches to interpret derived data are suggested and insights related to analysis of color development are supplied. Metrological aspects of the technique are duly addressed. Thus, care is devoted to characterizing the measurement technique employed, to highlight its limitations and to assess cross-device reproducibility of obtained results. The suggested method is simple and resorts to affordable and readily available devices and software. This technique can be applied in culture media enhancement, phenotypic characterization of microorganisms and especially, in the detection of colony color development.
Enric Maroto Fernandez has completed his MSc in Applied Microbiology, UAB, Barcelona and is presently a Doctoral candidate in the Industrial Doctorates plan of the Catalan government, a joint industry-university program. He has worked for seven years as a Product Specialist at IUL S.A., Barcelona, Spain, promoting, developing and supporting solutions for industrial microbiology laboratories around the globe. His areas of expertise include image analysis, rapid microbiology and microbial screening and identification solutions. He also specializes in emerging technology monitoring and new product development.
Email:enric.maroto@e-campus.uab.cat