METHOD OF GROWING COLONIES OF MICROBIAL CELLS AND DEVICE FOR ITS REALISATION Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC C12Q1/02 C12M1/00 C12M1/36 C12M1/04 C12N1/20 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to biotechnology. Claimed is a method of growing colonies of microbial cells on a surface of a porous plate. The method includes supply of a nutrient solution from bottom to top through the porous plate into zones of growth of colonies of the microbial cells on its upper surface, supply of a suspension of the microbial cells onto the upper surface of the porous plate, creation of controlled conditions for the colony growth, performing observation of the colony growth, separation of the grown colonies of the microbial cells from the zones of growth and their transfer into external means of identification. The nutrient solution is supplied into the zones of growth of the colonies of the microbial cells by creation of a pressure difference between the hole input and output. Holes are made in the plate from an anode aluminium oxide orthogonally to its large plane and are topologically coded. The said zones of growth are formed in them in the form of porous membranes. The porous membranes are located at the same level as the upper surface of the plate or with formation of a hollow and do not pass the microbial cells. After supply of the nutritional solution, the suspension of the microbial cells of a specified concentration is supplied onto the upper surface of the plate until their homogenous distribution is achieved. Between the zones of growth on the surface of the plate a film, preventing attachment of the microbial cells, is formed. Separation of the grown microcolonies from the zones of growth is performed by hydroblow. A hydroblow is directed from the side of the input of cylindrical holes of the plate and spreads along them and farther through the pores of the porous membranes with force, which does not destroy the microcolonies but is sufficient for their separation from the growth zones. Also claimed is a device for growing the colonies of the microbial cells by the claimed method.

EFFECT: providing conditions of automation of processes of the nutrient solution supply and processes of separation and transfer of the grown colonies, possibility of integration into miniature portable devices, and application in laboratories on a chip and provision of the device portability.

6 cl, 14 dwg, 4 tbl, 2 ex