Measurement of optical density of microbes by multi‐light path transmission method

作者：Hongwei Wang, C. Gu, Sujuan Xu, Hongfeng Wang, Zhao Xiaomin, Lichuan Gu · 发表于：mLife · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/mlf2.12147 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques、Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research、Biosensors and Analytical Detection

Abstract Optical density (OD) is an important indicator of microbial density, and a commonly used variable in growth curves to express the growth of microbial culture. However, OD values show a linear relationship with bacterial concentration only at low concentrations. When the cell density is high, the relationship loses linearity, and serial dilution is needed to obtain readings of better accuracy. Here, we show that measuring OD values using shorter light paths is in close equivalence to measuring OD values of the cell culture with corresponding dilution. By measuring three different light paths simultaneously, accurate OD values can be easily obtained from low to high cell density. Using this method, growth curves of Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pichia pastoris are measured with higher accuracy. To further simplify the process, an L ‐shaped cuvette and a corresponding turbidimeter are designed specifically for OD value measurement based on the multi‐light path transmission method.