Phenotype microarray technology and its application in industrial biotechnology

Phenotype microarray (PM) technology provides an insight into the metabolic profiling of microbial cells within 96-well plate system. The PM assay allows for cells to be assessed for utilisation of nutrients or sensitivity to toxic compounds. The assay utilises a redox sensitive tetrazolium dye which becomes irreversibly reduced upon detection of cellular metabolic output, detection is synchronous with a colour change from colourless to purple. Output from PM technology can be measured visually or quantified by reader the absorbance in each well. PM technology has highlighted differences in growth requirements, nutrient utilisation, sensitivity to toxins, and genetic diversity in bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells.