Quantifying microbial lag phenomena due to a sudden rise in temperature: a systematic macroscopic study

The microbial lag phase is a complex and yet not completely understood phenomenon. Many studies on the microbial lag phase have been published but few report a systematic study; moreover, previous lag studies have involved the effect of multiple confounded factors. Here, the effect of sudden temperature rises on an exponentially growing Escherichia coli culture is systematically investigated. Experiments are performed in a computer-controlled bioreactor where E. coli K12 MG1655 is grown under aerobic conditions in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth. This experimental set-up is used to characterise the effect of (i) the amplitude of the temperature shift, (ii) the pre-shift temperature level and (iii) the post-shift temperature level on the occurrence and length of a lag phase. Besides temperature, no other environmental changes take place at the moment of the temperature shift. To quantify the length of the induced lag phase, the experimental data are described with a common growth model. ing on the three factors tested, a lag phase of more or less 1 h is induced or not. This lag/no lag behaviour can largely be explained by the existence of a normal physiological temperature range but also the amplitude of the temperature rise plays a role. It can be concluded that for the microorganism under study the lower boundary of the normal range lies approximately between 22.78 and 23.86 °C. It is shown that this boundary is no cut-off point, but rather a transition zone. Even more, repeated experiments at this boundary have yielded different results (lag or no lag). This observation points out that the mechanism triggering this lag phase is not absolute but may be subject to biological variability.