Anaerobic Culturing Overview

Principles

Definition

Anaerobic culturing is a fundamental microbiological methodology for the isolation, growth, and study of microorganisms in environments strictly devoid of molecular oxygen. This technique is essential for investigating the physiology, metabolism, genetics, and ecological significance of obligate and facultative anaerobes across diverse biological systems, from environmental niches to host-associated communities.

Ontological type

Core Techniques

Redox Control

Media Formulation

Key developments

Key Figures

Quantitative Standardization era

John G. Bartlett [1] of Harvard University [3] and the University of California, Los Angeles [4] was a leading figure in advancing anaerobic clinical microbiology during the Quantitative Standardization era. His 1972 paper Treatment of Anaerobic Infections with Lincomycin and Clindamycin [6] provided clinical guidance for anaerobic infections and underscored the need for standardized antimicrobial regimens in this era. Sydney M. Finegold [2], associated with University of California, Los Angeles [4] and University of Southern California [5], contributed to the modernization of anaerobic microbiology through clinical and taxonomic studies during this era. The same 1972 paper Treatment of Anaerobic Infections with Lincomycin and Clindamycin [6] exemplifies Finegold's role in refining diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks that improved recoverability and standardization of anaerobic culture knowledge in this era.

Parameter-Driven Enrichment era

Joseph M. Suflita [1] is a leading figure in anaerobic microbiology during this era, with affiliations at New York University [3] and Pennsylvania State University [4]. His 1989 paper Anaerobic metabolic processes in the deep terrestrial subsurface [7] highlighted how anaerobic metabolisms operate in subsurface ecosystems and demonstrated the value of parameter-driven enrichment for revealing fermentative and respiratory strategies. D. P. Kelly [2] contributed to early chemostat studies with affiliations at The University of Western Australia [5] and University of Warwick [6]. His papers Competition in the Chemostat between an Obligately and a Facultatively Chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus [8] and Mixotrophic Growth of Thiobacillus A2 in Chemostat Culture on Formate and Glucose [9] advanced understanding of competitive and mixotrophic energy strategies under controlled conditions, informing parameter-driven enrichment of anaerobic communities.

Electron-Driven Community Engineering era

Derek R. Lovley [1] conducted influential work across Harvard University [3] and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [4] during the Electron-Driven Community Engineering era. Key contributions include showing electricity production by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to electrodes [7] and demonstrating direct electron exchange within evolved syntrophic cocultures [8], advances that were pivotal for engineering interspecies electron transfer and steering anaerobic communities toward desired product spectra. Ralf Conrad [2] is linked to Radboud University Nijmegen [5] and China Agricultural University [6] in this era. His notable contribution is the elucidation of hydrogen's role in methane production and the control of hydrogen concentrations in methanogenic soils and sediments, as described in the paper Contribution of hydrogen to methane production and control of hydrogen concentrations in methanogenic soils and sediments [9].