Stress management as the concept to control total bacterial cells in an environment

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24686060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Civil and environmental engineering
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Tsukasa 群馬大学, 理工学府, 准教授 (80431708)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 微細気泡 / マイクロバブル / ストレスマネージメント / ストレス / エアレーション / バクテリア / 大腸菌 / MiBos

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Humans are living creatures. Bacteria are also living things that feel stress and respond against it. However, there is no way to understand the stresses felt by living and growing bacteria (what stress they feel, how large it is, how important it is). It is necessary to compare standard stress levels to a low-stress state, but there was previously no method of creating a low-stress condition. This study developed a novel incubation device that produces very fine microbubbles and eliminates stress caused by bubble flow. Major stresses influential to bacterial growth and survival were revealed by using this device and gene expression analysis. Controlling the level of stress (stress management) on bacteria will be an invaluable ecological tool in the future; potential applications include better disinfectants and water purification.

Free Research Field

環境微生物学