Disclosed is a method for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, in particular in a water sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) distributing the liquid sample into a number of different discrete volume portions in a linear distribution pattern, or diluting the liquid sample into a number of dilution samples by a dilution factor of a linear distribution pattern; (b) allowing the microorganism to grow; and (c) applying the Most Probable Number method to the linearly distributed volume portions or the linearly diluted dilution samples to detect and/or quantify the microorganism. The invention also discloses a sample holder for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, wherein the sample holder is structured to hold the liquid sample in a number of different compartments, wherein the different compartments respectively define a linear volume distribution.

A treatment apparatus for treating biological cell cultures, located in respective storage chambers of a carrier, includes a work deck with one or more bearing spots for bearing the carrier. Each of the bearing spots includes a bearing region corresponding to an area of the carrier. The treatment apparatus additionally includes nozzles for producing a gas flow in a space above the work deck. To avoid liquid droplets or cell material being transported from one storage chamber to another as a result of a horizontal gas flow above the carrier during the treatment, the nozzles are arranged outside of and along an edge of the bearing region or within the bearing region and form a gas curtain around the carrier or the respective storage chambers.

A culture system for co-culturing a first cell group consisting of one or more kinds of cells and a cell layer or tissue formed of a second cell group consisting of one or more kinds of cells different from the former cells comprising: a first culture tank for co-culturing under anaerobic conditions the first cell group consisting of one or more kinds of cells and the cell layer or tissue formed of the second cell group consisting of one or more kinds of cells; a second culture tank for pooling a liquid culture medium of aerobic conditions; one or more substance-exchange structures that are disposed so as to connect the first culture tank to the second culture tank; and the aforesaid cell layer or tissue that is disposed so as to cover the surface on the first culture tank side of the substance-exchange structure(s).

Provided is a cell culture test device including a plurality of well units. Each of the well units includes a first inlet portion through which a first fluid is introduced, a first accommodation space communicating with the first inlet portion to accommodate a flow of the first fluid introduced through the first inlet portion, a second inlet portion through which a second fluid is introduced, and a second accommodation space in which the second fluid is accommodated. The second accommodation space accommodates an island structure connected with an island-connecting structure extending from the wall surface of the second accommodation space. A third inlet portion through which an antibiotic is loaded is formed above the island structure. The antibiotic loaded through the third inlet portion is fixedly accommodated on the inner and outer surfaces of the island structure.

An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

The invention discloses a flexible bag assembly for cultivation of cells, comprising one or more bags forming a plurality of cultivation compartments, wherein a drain port in at least a first cultivation compartment is adapted to be fluidically connected with a second cultivation compartment upon opening of a valve means. It also discloses a bioreactor with the bag assembly mounted on a rocking tray and a method of cultivating cells in the assembly.

A biogas reactor is disclosed in which biogas is formed from organic matter. The biogas reactor includes a wall to form a tank structure enclosing a tubular reactor space in which organic matter can be placed to form biogas. The wall forming the tank structure is comprised of a helically wound hollow pipe profile to form a spiral arrangement. The hollow space within the hollow pipe profile accommodates a heat-transfer medium to influence the temperature of organic matter in the reactor space. Connections are provided for feeding organic matter to the reactor space and removing it from the reactor space, and one or more connections are provided for removing biogas from the reactor space. The invention also concerns methods for producing biogas and for manufacturing a biogas reactor.

A cell cultivation apparatus for cultivating microorganisms and growing cells at high density is provided. The apparatus includes a membrane comprising multiple surface features on a first side of the membrane for cell placement. The surface features comprising one or more compartments within which a cell can be located. The membrane includes a material that is at least partially permeable to gas. A second side of the membrane defines a gas region. The second side of the membrane is separated from the first side of the membrane by the membrane. The apparatus further includes a media region for receiving media. The compartments are configured to at least partially reduce media flow shear forces on one or more cells in the compartments. The surface features may be ridges, protrusions, fins, wells, and/or posts.

Disclosed is an apparatus for the production of tissue from cells. The apparatus comprises an elongate body having at least one circumferential groove and being operable to extend, by close-fitting relationship, centrally through at least one trough. The troughs are extending in a closed path, such that the at least one of the circumferential grooves open into an inner edge of a trough. Also disclosed is a process for production of tissue from cells, via a transitioning intermediate which transitions from the cells into the tissue.

A bioreactor for producing hydrogen gas and other metabolites. The bioreactor utilizes light, fermentation, and other metabolic processes for the production of metabolites, derived from various microorganisms contained within the bioreactor through respective metabolic pathways. The bioreactor comprises a main reactor chamber, a semipermeable membrane, a sleeve, a power supply, a substrate medium, a heating member, a plurality of tubing members, a collection reservoir, a pressure-sealed connecter member, and an agitator.