A CONTINUOUS FLOW APPARATUS FOR THE STUDY OF MIXED CULTURES

Abstract

While studying the ecology of the human adult fecal flora there was need for an apparatus that would simulate the dynamic nature of the in vivo environment. This need is fulfilled by the Continuous Flow Appara tus which is described. It is adapted from the chemostat described by Kubitschek (Jour. Bact., 1954). It has been modified in such a way as to overcome clogging of the flow lines with gases resulting from micro-bial metabolism, to provide for the use of volumes of culture medium ranging from 50 to 350 ml and to permit adjustment of the flow rate between limits of 40 and 500 ml per hour during the course of an experi ment.