Amperometric Biochemical Characterization of Isolated Fungal Strains

The identification and biochemical characterization of microbial species by electrochemical methods have helped to develop microbial sensors that are rapid and effective. In this article, we present results of biochemical characterization of five fungi, the assimilation and biochemical characterization of various substrates and tolerance to selected inhibitors. The results are based on the respiratory rate and assimilatory profile of these fungi and are more rapid and reliable. The experimental results are discussed here with reference to individual fungus. Further, the advantages of the electrochemical assimilation for the biochemical characterization of the microbes have been discussed

Cyclic voltammetric measurements of growth of Aspergillus terreus

A detailed study using the cyclic voltammogram was done on the live cells of Aspergillus terreus. The peak current values were obtained for different days of growth and plotted against time. The response of cyclic voltammogram showed the phases of the growth of the fungus. The growth curve obtained matched well with the conventional methodology, which assesses the increase of dry weight of the organisms against time. The electrochemical method is more advantageous because it is easy to assess and consumes less time. Further the electrochemical method clearly shows the decline phase which is generally not very defined in the conventional method of assessment of the growth curve. It was confirmed by further experiments that the metabolites were responsible for the anodic peak and not the biomass. Further work is in progress in order to analyze the metabolite(s) that is/are responsible for the anodic peak