In some aspects, the invention relates to automated cell culture incubators and their methods of use. In one aspect, the disclosure provides cell culture incubators having an airlock chamber, a storage chamber and/or an internal chamber. In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods for producing autologous mammalian cell cultures.

The invention provides devices and methods for automatically preparing pure cultures of microbial cells under native environmental conditions. The devices and methods permit the discovery and investigation of novel microorganisms having unknown culture requirements from natural environments and microbiomes. Cultures obtained using the invention lead to the identification and isolation of novel biologically active compounds. The devices utilize a single entry pore in a thin membrane to select a single cell for clonal expansion.

A one-time use or repeated use self-contained biofilm-biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium is provided.

Blood being circulated to mimic the environment it naturally inhabits increases growth of cultures including bacteria for analysis. The present disclosure presents examples of a device, method, computer-readable medium, and other techniques for simulating a natural environment for blood. The techniques may include a channel with a hydrophobic interior surface and a fluid mover to encourage continuous fluid flow through the channel. The techniques may further include a gas exchange opening of the channel that exposes a fluid to gas outside of the channel.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

An improved method of culturing cells for cell therapy applications that includes growing desired cells in the presence of antigen-presenting cells and/or feeder cells and with medium volume to surface area ratio of up to 1 ml/cm.sup.2 if the growth surface is not comprised of gas permeable material and up to 2 ml/cm.sup.2 if the growth surface is comprised of gas permeable material. The desired cells are at a surface density of less than 0.5×10.sup.6 cells/cm.sup.2 at the onset of a production cycle, and the surface density of the desired cells plus the surface density of the antigen presenting cells and/or feeder cells are at least about 1.25×10.sup.5 cells/cm.sup.2.

A method for forming a product from a gas includes flowing a gas through a bioreactor for contacting the gas with polymer-immobilized whole cells and collecting the product from the bioreactor. The bioreactor includes a plurality of printed three-dimensional structures, each printed three-dimensional structure having at least one sidewall being a lattice, and the polymer-immobilized whole cells being present in the lattice.

Cell culture systems and methods provide improved immunotherapeutic product manufacturing with greater scalability, flexibility, and automation. Cell culture systems are configured with interchangeable cartridges, allowing versatility and scalability. Systems are configured to have multiple connected cell culture chambers, which allows parallel processing of different types of cells. Gas-impermeable cell culture chambers and methods for generating cells in closed systems prevent contamination and user error. Methods for recycling cell culture medium provide additional efficiencies.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

An inoculation apparatus is provided. The inoculation apparatus includes a vessel for containing liquid mycelium culture having: an outlet port; an injection port; and a breather port. The inoculation apparatus also includes an auto-fill syringe having a nozzle and an inlet port; a connection line with a first end connecting to the outlet port and a second end connecting to the inlet port; and an injection means connected to the nozzle. Related methods are also provided.