MasterClave (continued)

In the last entry on the MasterClave we skipped the plate pouring step. Today I managed to get some pictures (with the help of Avital) and so we can complete the story.

As you remember, we "cook" the media in the MasterClave. Once the agar is ready, can hook in a hose that sips into the hot agar mix. The hose is pre-sterilized and so does not introduce contamination.

The hose is then hooked into a pump that allows us to pump the media through the hose. The pump is calibrated so that every press on a foot pedal pumps a desired amount of agar.

This means that pouring a stack of plates is done rapidly. We do not need to open the plate completely (for comparison recall that in manual pouring we remove the lid) , and moreover the amount of agar in each plate is uniform and delivered at a constant temperature.

MasterClave

I mentioned briefly this device when it arrived two weeks ago. Today we used and this gives me a chance to tell you more about this device.

When growing microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, etc.) we usually either use a "wet" environment (media) or a "dry" one, where we grow them on agar basis - a jelly substance that contains nutrients. As I learned today, agar is made from seaweed and was originally used to make gelatinous food in the orient, so it is in an essence, jelly.

To make agar plates, we need to prepare a mixture of water, glucose (sugar), nutrients, and, of course,  agar. Each of the components is weighted to make sure we match the recipe.

This mix is then heated to achieve two goals. First, sterilization to ensure that no other microorganism gets to party on the good stuff. And second to melt the agar. When the liquid is cooled down, the molecules will form a network that will stabilize the jelly.

Since we plan on making many agar plates, we equipped ourselves with the MasterClave. A device to make agar plates a piece of cake.

It consists of a pot-like internal chamber where the agar mixture is put. This chamber has an internal blade for mixing the mixture.
 

Once the mixture is in the pot, we install it in the machine. It is secured into place.

After that we can close the lid, and secure it, much like a pressure cooker.

Now the MasterClave heats the mixture to programmed temperature and pressure, and then lets it cool to a pouring temperature --- one that is not too hot to damage the plates, and not to cold enough for the agar to solidify. At this stage we can also add temperature sensitive ingredients (such as antibiotics) and have them mix into the melted agar.


Connected to the MasterClave is pump that allows us to deliver pre-configured amount of agar in each press on foot pedal. I missed the pouring step today (committee meeting), but the results are a nice stack of plates. These need to cool down for a day, and then can be packed and stored for use.

Today we made only a liter of agar, but the MasterClave can make up to 9 liters, which allows for a much more substantial amount of plates.

On an other note, Naomi visited the lab today. We immediately put her to work and had her load a gel. She did not hesitate and did a marvelous job at it.

Back from vacation

The last week I went on vacation with the extended family to Samoens, France part of the Grand Massif ski area. We enjoyed the slopes,

the wine

and also the fresh snow...

In the meantime the lab was busy. Ayelet, Avital, Ruty and Ohad worked and managed experiments with the Microscope and the FACS (more on these during the week).

We also had some new arrivals, the most impressive one is the MasterClave - a device for preparing and pouring agar media.