Consecutive batch cultures

Consecutive batch rumen simulations

Key highlights

  • Extended incubation cycle over a 2-week period to assess dynamic changes
  • Serial transfers to extend the incubation cycle, enhancing longitudinal adaptation studies
  • Assessment of sustained effects of test products on microbial communities and activity
  • Enhanced experimental capacity compared with continuous culture methods
  • Microbial enrichment through consecutive exposure to enhance anaerobic digestion of resilient substrates
  • Customizable and comprehensive analysis to meet diverse research requirements

Examples of possible research questions

  • Long-term dose-response: investigate the prolonged effects of test products on enteric methane production and microbial biodegradation.
  • Microbial composition impact: assess the long-term effect of test products on the microbial community structure within the rumen.
  • Microbial adaptation: study how the microbial population adapts to ongoing exposure to test products over an extended period.
  • Microbial enrichment: selectively enrich specific microbial groups to create inocula with enhanced ability to digest resilient substrates in anaerobic environments.

Research endpoints

Microbial (composition) analysis

  • Nucleotide base analysis
  • qPCR
  • Metatoxonomic analysis (e.g. based on 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, mcrA)
  • Metagenomic analysis

Microbial activity analysis

  • Total gas production and gas composition
  • Short-chain fatty acid production
  • Ammonium or lactate accumulation
  • Long-chain fatty acids including biohydrogenation intermediates
  • pH of rumen liqui