Microogranism Screening Using Gel Microdrops

This research will develop a novel, high throughput method for screening and recovering microorganiproducing antibiotics of interest. The combination of One Cell Systems' gel microdrop encapsulationfluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), forms the basis for an automated, low unit cost screeninapplicability to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. By embedding microorganisms of interestmicro- environments, individual organisms can be analyzed and screened for activity. Isolation of miexpected to reduce interference from other substances in the sample, making it possible to rapidly drecover small quantities of active compounds. In the hospital setting, antibiotic resistant Staphylooften fatal, are immune to all but one antibiotic, vancomycin. As well, the reemergence of multi-drutuberculosis isolates, primarily due to the AIDS epidemic, has emphasized the need to develop new, mantibiotics. This research and development program is designed to adapt One Cell Systems, Inc.'s novplatform technology for encapsulating and analyzing single cells to identifying and recovering uniquhaving utility as industrial enzymes or drugs.