A NOVEL MEMBRANE REACTOR DESIGN FOR CONTROLLED-STUDIES OF INTERACTINGPOPULATIONS (SIMULATION OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN MICROORGANISM AND PLANT SUSPENSION-CULTURES)

The design of a reactor in which two interacting cell populations (mic roorganisms and plants) could grow under controlled conditions was con sidered. In this reactor, the cell populations are separated by a memb rane which permits semi-in vivo study of induced interaction-specific changes in metabolism In this paper, the interaction of suspension cul ture of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) and the Oomycete, Phytophthora nic otiana was simulated. The results of the computer simulation show the induced metabolic changes as a consequence of the biological interacti on. The paper introduces a novel approach in the strategy for the stud y of interacting population in suspension cultures. This type of syste m has potential applications in studies of the regulation of secondary metabolism and for the production of high values pharmaceuticals. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.