The disclosure relates to a device for providing and handling a sterile liquid medium, including a closed ampoule containing the medium and one swab composed of a rod and a swab head, the ampoule and the swab are arranged opposite each other in a housing for storage and handling. The housing is openable in the region of the swab to release the swab head for use and closable after use of the swab head, and the ampoule is openable in the closed housing so that the medium reaches and surrounds the swab head inside the housing. The disclosure also provides a method for providing a liquid culture medium, in particular a liquid nutrient medium for cultivation of microorganisms, preferably pathogens, bacteria, fungi and yeasts, and/or viruses, preferably for use in cleanrooms or isolators. The disclosure lastly relates to the use of a corresponding device in cleanrooms or isolators.

A microfluidic dual-well device is disclosed. The device comprises: (a) a first substrate having a first end, a second end, and a culture microwell forming portion; (b) a plurality of culture microwells; (c) a second substrate having a first end, a second end, and a capture microwell forming portion, the two ends of the second substrate being respectively bounded to the two ends of the first substrate; (d) a plurality of capture microwells; (e) a microfluidic channel; (f) a microfluidic inlet port; and (g) a microfluidic outlet port; wherein the microfluidic channel is in fluidic connections with the culture microwells, the capture microwells, and the inlet and outlet ports. Methods of capturing and transferring a single cell or a single cell colony for culture, and method of transferring a target cell from a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structure of culture microwells to a culture plate for culture are also disclosed.

Process for continuous inoculation of a food product, in particular a dairy product, with ferments, comprising the following steps:solid concentrated ferments are transformed into liquid concentrated ferments,the transformed concentrated ferments are continuously injected into a flow of liquid to be inoculated, characterized in that the liquid concentrated ferments are transformedby thawing frozen concentrated ferments in a temperature controlled chamber orby rehydrating freeze-dried concentrated ferments.

A microorganism activation system for activating microorganisms prior to application of microorganisms to agricultural products includes a first container, a second container, and a disruptable dividing member. The first container includes a stabilized microbial culture therein. The second container includes an aqueous rehydration solution therein. The disruptable dividing member separates the stabilized microbial culture in the first container from the aqueous rehydration solution in the second container. Disrupting the dividing member releases the stabilized microbial culture into the second chamber to contact the aqueous rehydration solution. Contact between the stabilized microbial culture and the aqueous rehydration solution re-initiates cellular activity of the microorganisms.

The present disclosure is directed to portable bioreactors that allow the custom production of microbial cultures, and in some embodiments, the production of custom microbial biofilms. Also disclosed are portable bioreactor systems that are networked and capable of cooperative work in parallel.

A microorganism activation system for activating microorganisms prior to application of microorganisms to agricultural products includes a first container, a second container, and a disruptable dividing member. The first container includes a stabilized microbial culture therein. The second container includes an aqueous rehydration solution therein. The disruptable dividing member separates the stabilized microbial culture in the first container from the aqueous rehydration solution in the second container. Disrupting the dividing member releases the stabilized microbial culture into the second chamber to contact the aqueous rehydration solution. Contact between the stabilized microbial culture and the aqueous rehydration solution re-initiates cellular activity of the microorganisms.

A holder for connecting a culture bottle to a collection kit includes a needle unit including a needle tube to be punctured into a mouth portion of the culture bottle and a needle base portion that supports the needle tube, a first tube supported by the needle base portion and including a first chamber that accommodates the needle tube therein, and a second tube including a second chamber that accommodates the mouth portion of the culture bottle and movable relative to the first tube. The second tube moves toward the needle unit to cause the needle tube to puncture into the mouth portion of the culture bottle.