Health

Revolutionary Single-Cell Sorting Platform Transforms Microbial Discovery from Months to Days!

2025-06-03

Author: Ming

Game-Changer in Microbial Screening

A groundbreaking breakthrough from Chinese researchers is set to transform the field of microbial research! An innovative high-throughput single-cell sorting platform, FlowRACS 3.0, has been unveiled, allowing scientists to efficiently isolate living cells with specific metabolic profiles from extensive mutant libraries.

Speeding Up the Process

Gone are the days of laborious, colony-by-colony screening that could take months—or even years. This revolutionary technology slashes that timeline to mere hours or days. Led by esteemed researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, their findings were recently published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Cutting-Edge Technology Behind the Breakthrough

The secret lies in a sophisticated method known as positive dielectrophoresis-induced deterministic lateral displacement-based Raman-activated cell sorting (pDEP-DLD-RACS). This technique harnesses the power of Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive, label-free, and high-speed analysis of metabolic traits in hundreds of single cells every minute. This remarkable capability enables real-time identification and recovery of metabolically distinct cells without compromising their health.

Unleashing the Power of Microfluidics

Featuring three vital advancements, the pDEP-DLD-RACS platform boasts high signal fidelity, rapid sorting speeds up to 600 events per minute, and exceptional operational stability, capable of continuous performance for over 10 hours. The ingenious integration of wide microfluidic channels and precise dielectrophoretic control ensures efficient recovery of rare cells while maintaining high viability levels.

A Breakthrough in DHA Production

To highlight its industrial potential, the researchers applied their cutting-edge technology to isolate a mutant strain of Aurantiochytrium sp., crucial for producing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In just two days, they screened over 250,000 cells and discovered a strain that outperformed the wild type, generating a staggering 58% more DHA, along with 34% greater lipid content and 21% enhanced DHA purity.

A New Era for Microbial Screening

Prof. Feng stated, "This platform revolutionizes microbial screening, moving away from fluorescent markers to real-time chemical phenotyping, almost like using a metabolic fingerprint for instant identification of elite cells." Prof. Ma emphasized that this milestone showcases how Raman flow cytometry can evolve from research to an essential tool for industrial strain optimization in biotechnology.

Unlocking Future Potential

Transcriptome analysis of the newly identified mutant highlighted significant metabolic reprogramming, indicating improved carbon flow into lipid synthesis and an advantageous redox balance for polyunsaturated fatty acid production. These results not only confirm the platform's screening prowess but also lay the groundwork for future metabolic engineering.

More Than Just a Sorting Tool!

Prof. Xu referred to the platform as a 'living gem' discovery engine, ideal for ecological monitoring and functional cell mining. Its ability to maintain cell viability while rapidly selecting for complex metabolic traits positions FlowRACS 3.0 as a pivotal instrument across various settings, from industrial bioreactors to healthcare.

A Bright Future in Biotechnology

By ingeniously merging microfluidics, dielectrophoresis, and Raman spectroscopy, this study tackles longstanding challenges in biotechnological screening, heralding a new age for the swift development of microbial factories and groundbreaking applications in synthetic biology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental science.