Aerobic Culturing Overview

Principles

Definition

Aerobic culturing is a fundamental methodological approach in microbiology and cell biology focused on the cultivation and maintenance of microorganisms or cells in an environment containing molecular oxygen. This technique is essential for investigating the growth characteristics, metabolic processes, and biological behaviors of aerobic organisms, serving as a critical tool in basic research, clinical diagnostics, and biotechnological applications.

Ontological type

Core Methods

Oxygen Control

Applications

Key developments

Key Figures

Phenotype-driven Taxonomy era

Norberto J. Palleroni [1] was a central figure in this period, with affiliations across University of California, Berkeley [3] and Southern Illinois University Carbondale [4]. His key contribution was the taxonomic study of the Aerobic Pseudomonads, The Aerobic Pseudomonads a Taxonomic Study [7], which advanced phenotype-based classification and provided a reproducible framework for culture-based taxonomy essential to diagnostics and industry in this era. R. G. E. Murray [2] was another central figure in this period, with affiliations at Harvard University [5] and University of Washington [6]. His work on the mucopeptide localization in sections of the cell wall of Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria, The Location of the Mucopeptide in Sections of the Cell Wall of Escherichia coli and Other Gram-Negative Bacteria [8], provided key insights into cell envelope phenotypes that underpinned serological and taxonomic approaches in this era.

Chemomolecular Taxonomic Integration era

Erko Stackebrandt[1] of The University of Queensland[3] and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign[4] helped shape the Chemomolecular Taxonomic Integration era by fostering frameworks that blend chemotaxonomic data with emerging molecular and data-driven methods. His contributions include The Phylogeny of Prokaryotes[7], Red-Pigmented Micrococci: A Basis for Taxonomy[8], and Phylogenetic studies of the rRNA group II pseudomonads based on 16S rRNA gene sequences[9], providing higher-resolution, standardized taxonomic concepts essential for this era. Jørgen Slots[2] of University of Pennsylvania[5] and University of Helsinki[6] contributed to the era through serology and immunodiagnostic approaches. His serology-focused papers Serology of oral Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and serotype distribution in human periodontal disease[10] and Detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides gingivalis in subgingival smears by the indirect fluorescent-antibody technique[11] helped establish standardized diagnostic datasets and immunodiagnostic assays that underpinned comparative taxonomy in this era.

Ecological and Applied Integration era

Brian Austin [1] is associated with Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway [3] and University of Stirling [4] during this era. His contributions include advancing probiotics in aquaculture through Probiotics in aquaculture [7] and through Use of probiotics to control furunculosis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss [8], innovations that integrated culture-based methods with ecological insights to improve disease management in aquaculture. Patrice Nordmann [2] is linked with Université Paris-Sud [5] and Université Paris Cité [6] during this era. His work on antimicrobial resistance surveillance and outbreak characterization is exemplified by the Outbreak of OXA-48-Positive Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in France [9], underscoring the importance of rapid detection and genomic-informed diagnostics in healthcare settings.