Phenotype MicroArrays for Microbial Cells
Phenotype MicroArrays for Microbial Cells
Phenotype MicroArrays (PMs) represent the third major technology, alongside DNA Microarrays and Proteomic Technologies, that is needed in the genomic era of research and drug development. Just as DNA Microarrays and Proteomic Technologies have made it possible to assay the level of thousands of genes or proteins all at once, Phenotype MicroArrays make it possible to quantitatively measure thousands of cellular phenotypes all at once.
Phenotype MicroArray technology enables researchers to evaluate nearly 2000 phenotypes of a microbial cell in a single experiment. Through comprehensive and precise quantitation of phenotypes, researchers are able to obtain an unbiased perspective of the effect on cells of genetic differences, environmental change, and exposure to drugs and chemicals. You can:
Phenotype MicroArrays are preconfigured 96 well plates containing different classes of chemical compounds designed to test for the presence or absence of specific cellular phenotypes. There are 10 panels designed to interrogate metabolic pathways along with ionic, osmotic and pH effects, and 10 panels to assess the sensitivity to various antimicrobials with different mechanisms of action.
Have a look at our Phenotype MicroArray Plate Maps:
Metabolic tests for bacteria and fungi
Chemical sensitivity tests for bacteria
Chemical sensitivity tests for fungi

HOW PHENOTYPE MICROARRAY TECHNOLOGY WORKS
DNA Microarrays and Proteomic Technologies allow scientists to detect genes or proteins that are coregulated and whose patterns of change correlate with something important such as a disease state. However there is no assurance that these changes are really significant to the cell. Phenotype MicroArrays are a complementary technology providing the needed information at the cellular level.

To compare the phenotypes of two cell lines, one is recorded as a red tracing and one as a green tracing. These graphs can then be overlaid by the bioinformatic software to detect differences. Areas of overlap are colored yellow, whereas differences are highlighted as patches of red or green.
Phenotype MicroArrays are preconfigured sets of phenotypic tests deployed on microplate panels. Each well of the array is designed to test a different phenotype after inoculation with a standardized cell suspension, allowing simultaneous testing of thousands of phenotypes in a single experiment.
Phenotype MicroArrays use Biolog’s patented redox technology, with cell respiration (NADH production) as a universal reporter. If the phenotype is strongly “positive” in a well, the cells respire actively, reducing a tetrazolium dye and forming a strong color. If it is weakly positive or negative, respiration is slowed or stopped, and the result is less color or no color.
The redox assay provides for both amplification and precise quantitation of phenotypes. Incubation and recording of phenotypic data is performed automatically by the OmniLog instrument.
To compare the phenotypes of two cell lines, one is recorded as a red tracing and one as a green tracing. These graphs can then be overlaid by the bioinformatic software to detect differences. Areas of overlap are colored yellow, whereas differences are highlighted as patches of red or green.

KINETIC DATA CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS
OmniLog PM software contains a suite of algorithms that work in conjunction with the OmniLog PM system and Phenotype MicroArray panels to automate incubation of up to fifty microplates at a fixed user-controlled temperature with complete collection of colorimetric assay data over time. These programs allow for display of kinetic data from PM panels recorded by the OmniLog PM system, manage and analyze the data, export it in a variety of raw and processed forms, and generate reports.

Software Functions
- Drives the operation of the OmniLog PM system
- Guides loading and reading of plates or PM panels
- Creates a kinetic data file for each plate or PM panel for use in the other program modules
File Management/Kinetic Analysis
- Assembles plate or PM panel data files into data lists
- Displays kinetic plots of the data
- Allows export of kinetic plots as bmp or jpeg files
Parametric Analysis
- Extracts data lists from the File Management /Kinetic Analysis module
- Calculates parameters from kinetic data
- Allows comparison of two data lists
- Highlights wells and generates a report on PM phenotypes that differ significantly in any selected kinetic analysis parameter
- Links metabolic substrates in PM panels to KEGG database
- Export the original OmniLog kinetic data
- Export data parameters for statistical & bioinformatic analysis