ISOLATION AND CULTIVATION OF MICROORGANISMS FROM NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS AND DRUG DISCOVERY BASED THEREON

摘要

The method of the invention is directed to the novel use of a diffusionchamber within which previously "uncultivatible" microorganisms can beisolated. Rather than attempting to replicate the natural environment of anunknown microorganism, the method of the invention provides for exposingdividing microorganisms to all the components of the original environmentwhile simultaneously containing the resulting colonies so that they can beisolated. The method of the invention can take advantage of the recognitionthat the preponderance of difficult-to-grow microorganisms do not formcolonies visible to the naked eye. Therefore, these organisms must be isolatedunder a compound microscope as "microcolonies". In addition, methods accordingto the invention permit the isolation of novel microorganisms capable ofgrowing in artificial media only in co-culture in the presence of a companionmicroorganism.