INTEGRA’s VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette and VIAFLO lightweight electronic pipette are the perfect lab companions for agricultural research into microbial evolution. Bacterial evolution studies involve analysis of large sample numbers, requiring streamlined, reproducible pipetting processes to effectively characterize the features of different strains. Dr Astrid Altamirano-Junqueira, who completed her doctoral studies into the evolution of bacterial motility in the School of Biological Studies at Reading University, discussed how these electronic pipettes aided her research: “My focus was on the effects of deleting the flagella master regulator gene – FleQ – in Pseudomonas fluorescens. I performed in-depth gene expression studies on more than 40 different FleQ knockout P. fluorescens strains, and identified a novel strain that had undergone a rewiring of the nitrogen pathway to restore flagella expression and motility. I then went on to explore how this new ‘swimmer’ strain was affected by nitrogen starvation.”

“The time savings that I gained from using the VOYAGER and VIAFLO pipettes meant I could study more strains, as well as more culture conditions. This allowed me to gain as much information as possible for the strains, which was vital for multivariate analysis. I was even able to identify a novel ammonia transporter that, after genome sequencing, led to the discovery of a new strain. It’s thanks to my INTEGRA electronic pipettes that I could perform all the PCR experiments and screen over 40 strains in just two weeks – I’m incredibly thankful for the VOYAGER!”

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences (https://www.integra-biosciences.com) is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling and media preparation. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. Today, INTEGRA innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world. More than 100 distribution partners form a worldwide sales network providing responsive and competent services to customers. These distribution partners are supported by a highly motivated and experienced team of specialists at the company headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.