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Published: 25/05/23 12:41 Categories: Microbiology
Microorganisms are the most used tool for biotechnology, this is due to their high growth and easiness to assimilate desired modifications. In many cases we use the whole microorganism, for example as biomass for livestock feed; sometimes we are looking for a specific ability, like bioremediation or biofertilizers. Finally, there are its metabolites, these compounds can be extracted and purified for diverse applications: research, clinical diagnosis, dietary supplements or even drugs.
Where does endotoxin appear and affect it?
Most used microorganisms are divided into bacteria and yeast. Regarding bacteria, E. coli and lactic acid bacteria, like Lactobacillus, stand out. Meanwhile, the most common yeasts are Komagataella phaffii and Kluyveromyces lactis.
Gram negative bacteria have lipopolysaccharides in their membranes called endotoxins. These compounds have no effect on microorganisms, but they produce severe damage in complex living beings, like humans. Deactivating them requires a higher temperature than autoclave, so assuring their absence in laboratory material and cultures is difficult.
This is why an endotoxin low level medium is desired for some applications, for example, in drugs or dietary supplements synthesis. Companies search for cultured media that do not add more of these endotoxins so as not to saturate the purifying systems, even when they work with bacteria like E. coli, which produces endotoxins itself.
How to avoid endotoxin in your culture media
Peptones are one of the most used compounds for culture media formulation. Due to its manufacture, peptones usually have a high number of endotoxins. The classical method for its elimination includes an ultrafiltration step, however it also eliminates the bigger peptide fragments, which consequently reduces the effect of the final product. That is why we developed Condalow®, a peptone product line low in endotoxins and ultrafiltration-free, from Condalab.
Condalow® is the ingredient your culture media needs to get a boost. It enhances the growth of microorganisms and the synthesis of your desired proteins. All this while ensuring a level of endotoxins below 200 units per gram.
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