Escherichia coli Fermentation and GFP Production by using the Eppendorf BioFlo®120 Bioprocess Control Station

Abstract

This article is an examination of a bioprocess experiment involving the cultivation of a GFP-expressing strain of Escherichia coli using the BioFlo®120 bioprocess control station. The BioFlo 120 is a bench-scale bioreactor/fermentor system perfectly suited for all levels of research and development. The study highlights the capabilities of the BioFlo®120 in supporting high-density growth and protein production. There is two key parameters were monitored to assess the progress of the fermentation process, the optical density (OD600) to estimate cell density and relative fluorescence units (RFU) to quantify the green fluorescent protein production. Additionally, it discusses the Auto Culture modes, which enable automatic process control of common microbial and mammalian cultures, making it accessible for users with varying levels of experience. The application note also delves into the differences between batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentation processes, with a focus on E. coli fermentation at bench scale. It covers various aspects such as biomass and nutrient concentration analysis methods, including growth rate, productivity, yield, and process costs. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights for bioprocess engineers in selecting the most suitable fermentation method for their specific requirements. This article explores the positive outcome for bioprocess engineers and researchers who aim to optimize bio-production systems for industrial or research purposes.