The design of microfluidic microbial ecology device (MMED) and the script for the mathematical microbial ecology model (MMEM) were generated, the MMED was fabricated, and the experiments have been conducted.
Simulations and experiments with Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells were performed both in topologically homogenous and heterogeneous microenvironments to determine the growth profile of cells under the influence of crowded microenvironments. The results of the simulations and experiments with E. coli cells in their artificial microhabitats were submitted for a scientific article: “Kaymaz, S., V., Demir, G. K., Elitas, M. (Submitted). Mathematical Modeling of Escherichia coli Kinetics to Predict Growth and Rifampicin-dependent Killing Profile”. Besides, previously generated data of isoniazid exposed M. smegmatis cells was published as a scientific article using the acquired analysis skills in this project: “Elitas, M., Dhar, N., McKinney D. J. (2021). Revealing antibiotic tolerance of Mycobacterium smegmatis Xanthine/Uracil Permease Mutant using microfluidics and single-cell analysis. Antibiotics, 7, 794.
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10070794(opens in new window)”.
Moreover, the results of the simulations and experiments of antibiotic exposed E. coli cells in the artificial microhabitats was submitted to the conference: “Kaymaz, S., V., Elitas, M. (Submitted to ETAI 2022). A deep learning approach for quantitative single-cell analysis of ciprofloxacin-treated Escherichia coli cells in heterogeneous microenvironments,
https://spie.org/op22n/conferencedetails/emerging-topics-in-ai?utm_id=rop22scpw&SSO=1(opens in new window)”. Next, a manuscript related to single-cell analysis of E. coli for ciprofloxacin killing in topologically different microenvironments is under preparation: “Kaymaz, S., V., Elitas, M. (Under preparation). Single-cell analysis of Escherichia coli for ciprofloxacin killing in topologically different microenvironments”. Furthermore, the simulation results generated to predict the rifampicin response of E. coli cells by traditional colony forming unit assays was submitted as a manuscript, as mentioned above. Finally, the developed mathematical model is being optimized to become a free, open access toolbox for researchers to build upon.
In this project the generated data is accessible via a HTTP web repository:
https://mmed.sabanciuniv.edu/(opens in new window).
The results of the projects were faithfully communicated to different audiences. The press releases by the Press Office at SU was announced the updates and events related to projects through:
http://gazetesu.sabanciuniv.edu/en(opens in new window). Yearly one-day training school for the primary school students was performed at Sabanci University. Several high schools and universities were visited, and the project was presented. Simple microfluidics devices were shared to the high school students at the summer school at Sabanci University:
http://liseyazokulu.sabanciuniv.edu(opens in new window). Social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter) usage provided access to reach young people, inspire them, and encourage them to consider a career path in science in Europe. Besides, CORDIS and Elitas laboratory webpage were used for the dissemination of the project results:
http://myweb.sabanciuniv.edu/melitas/marie-curie-project-at-biomechatronics-group/(opens in new window). Still, popular science articles will be published with jargon-free, simple language to disseminate the results of the project. Since, new experiments will be conducted using the MMED and MMEM frameworks, the newsletter of EU and SU, EU Research and Innovation magazines will be informed and updated with the significant research results.
