SCREENING OF SINGLE ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN A MICROCHANNEL SYSTEM BY ELECTRIC-FIELD AND LASER TWEEZERS

This paper proposes a novel methodology for high throughput screening of microbes. We have developed a prototype of a microchannel system fo r high throughput screening of Escherichia coli. Experimental demonstr ation of non-contact transportation and manipulation of E. coli by die lectrophoretic force and radiation pressure of laser tweezers was carr ied out with a Laser manipulator system. The basic strategies for impr oving the working efficiency and the operability of the micromanipulat ion are discussed, and a new direction in this field is presented. Exp eriments show that transportation and separation of E. coli with an el ectric field and optical radiation pressure is useful for future pract ical application to the high throughput screening of microbes. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V.