Customer story
Nordic microbes
DEVELOPS AND PRODUCES MICROBIAL PRODUCTS, DENMARK
Clear insights into microbial growth reduce process variability
The challenge of variability in process outputs
For companies working in microbial fermentation, process variability can be a major obstacle. Even when using seemingly standardized conditions, outputs can fluctuate significantly. Understanding the causes of variability is essential for reproducibility and scale-up—but existing standard methods in microbiology are not always sufficient to capture or explain process dynamics.
Nordic microbes has a mission to drive the green transition in agriculture by replacing pesticides and synthetic fertilizers with natural, microbe-based solutions. At Nordic microbes, researchers observed significant variability in their process but struggled to identify why. Their media contained molasses, resulting in a very dark, opaque medium. Optical density (OD) is often used for in-process monitoring, but OD is unsuitable in media that strongly absorb or scatter light. Without real-time insight into growth patterns, it is difficult to optimize conditions. Instead, Nordic microbes relied on colony-forming units (CFUs) to characterize the processes, but reproducibility between runs was poor.
Nordic microbes
Nordic microbes has developed a unique technology that allows them to quickly identify microorganisms adapted to local soil conditions with particularly beneficial properties. This technology, called MicrobeTRAP, is a microbial trap. When placed in the soil with the right nutrients, it captures microorganisms with the desired characteristics.
Learn more about Nordic microbes on their website and their LinkedIn page.
The BactoBox® investigations
To gain clearer insight, Nordic microbes implemented BactoBox® to track bacterial growth directly in their process development. Unlike OD, which was unusable in the opaque molasses medium, or CFUs, which are slow, labor-intensive, and prone to variability, BactoBox® delivered direct cell counts in minutes. The team carried out two separate investigations.
Comparing BactoBox® with CFUs
INVESTIGATION 1
They mapped BactoBox® growth curves against CFUs and found that BactoBox® delivered smoother and more reproducible curves, with growth kinetics consistent with a simple exponential growth model. In contrast, CFUs fluctuated both within and between runs, and the data could not be mathematically modelled using standard growth equations.
Relating BactoBox® growth to auxiliary process parameters
INVESTIGATION 2
The BactoBox® intact cell concentration (ICC) growth curve was then compared to online parameters, including pH, headspace CO₂ levels, and dissolved oxygen. These changes were expected to align with distinct growth stages such as the onset of exponential and stationary phases. In reality, when compared with actual bacterial concentrations from BactoBox®, the parameter shifts did not align with growth patterns. This highlighted how critical it is to have a direct measurement of bacterial concentration rather than relying on indirect proxy methods.
Figure 1: Growth curve measured with BactoBox® (left) alongside recorded online sensor parameters (right). Dashed lines indicate distinct events marked by changes in pH, CO₂, or dissolved oxygen.
Clearer insights into variability
RESULTS
By using BactoBox®, Nordic microbes gained a more reliable picture of their fermentation dynamics:
- More reproducible data: BactoBox® revealed consistent growth curves, unlike the variable CFU counts.
- Clarity in opaque media: The BactoBox® detection principle works even in very dark, opaque, and particle-rich media where OD cannot be applied.
- Deeper understanding: The team confirmed that auxiliary parameters (pH, CO₂ production, DO, agitation) reflect process events but cannot be considered reliable proxies for microbial growth.
This gave the team a new level of confidence in analyzing their process variability, allowing them to separate true biological behavior from artifacts of measurement.
Clarity beyond
OD and CFUs
Looking ahead
The team at Nordic microbes has now continued its work with BactoBox® as a central tool for understanding fermentation variability and supporting process scale-up. For any laboratory working with turbid or dark media—or where OD and auxiliary parameters cannot be trusted to reflect microbial growth—BactoBox® offers a way to bring speed, clarity, and confidence into process development.
At SBT Instruments, we believe microbial research should not be slowed down or distorted by the limitations of indirect measurement methods. With BactoBox®, researchers gain the clarity they need to make better comparisons, move faster, and develop processes with confidence.
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