This article discusses the preparation of artificial cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum to study microbial growth associated with the disease. The process involves combining various biochemical components to replicate the viscosity and nutrient profile of natural CF sputum.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes thick, sticky mucus accumulation in the lungs, forming sputum that supports pathogenic microbial growth.
To prepare artificial CF sputum, take solutions with key biochemical properties.
The mucin mix contains mucins, which are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins, to replicate CF sputum viscosity and promote microbial adhesion.
The chemical mix supplies ions and glucose to support microbial metabolism.
The biological mix provides nutrients for microbial growth.
Combine all to form the artificial sputum medium (ASM).
Add a buffering agent to maintain a mildly acidic pH that favors pathogen survival.
For medium sterilization, transfer the ASM to a vacuum filtration chamber with a membrane filter.
Filter under agitation to avoid mucin aggregation and prevent filter clogging.
The vacuum draws the medium through the filter, removing microbial contaminants and macromolecular aggregates.
The ASM is ready for culturing CF-associated microbes.
Prepare an artificial sputum medium by adding 250 milliliters of ASCM to the 1 litre bottle containing ASMM. Then, add 250 milliliters of ASBM to the medium bottle. Titrate the medium with a basic 1 molar MOPS buffer to reach a pH of 6.3 on a pH paper.
Refrigerate the artificial sputum medium at 4 degrees Celsius until filtration. Then, to start the filtration process, transfer 200 milliliters of unfiltered artificial sputum medium to a vacuum filtration system with a 0.22 micrometers pore size filter. After connecting the filtration system to the vacuum pump, turn on the vacuum pump. Then, place the chamber on an orbital shaker, shaking at 90 rotations per minute in a cold room at 4 degrees Celsius.
Change the filter after 350 milliliters of medium gets filtered to overcome the clogging issue. After a considerable amount is filtered, add an extra 150 milliliters medium for filtration. Repeat filtration with additional chambers until all the media is filtered.