Size-based sorting of dynamic bacterial clusters.

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Title: Size-based sorting of dynamic bacterial clusters.
Authors: Akbari, Elham1 (AUTHOR), Beech, Jason P.1 (AUTHOR), Kumra Ahnlide, Johannes2 (AUTHOR), Wrighton, Sebastian2,3 (AUTHOR), Nordenfelt, Pontus2 (AUTHOR), Tegenfeldt, Jonas O.1 (AUTHOR) jonas.tegenfeldt@ftf.lth.se
Source: Lab on a Chip. 3/17/2026, Vol. 26 Issue 6, p1890-1900. 11p.
Subjects: Microbial aggregation, Microfluidic devices, Cell separation, Streptococcus pyogenes, Immune response
Abstract: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) forms highly deformable aggregates with broad variations in size and morphology, complicating controlled separation and biological analysis. Reliable methods to isolate fractions of GAS clusters with defined properties are essential for studying host–pathogen interactions that depend on cluster size. Here, we present a simple deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic device to separate complex suspensions of bacterial aggregates into two size-enriched fractions. We use a DLD with a small displacement angle to accommodate the large range of particle sizes above the critical size. We introduce an intermediate outlet, in addition to the conventional zigzag and displacement outlets, to collect the aggregates which exhibit a large dispersion due to their broad variety in shape and sizes close to the device critical diameter. In this way, we can demonstrate fractionation of GAS clusters with >90% purity based on effective size while causing minimal fragmentation or additional aggregation, as demonstrated by image analysis and dual-colour experiments. Finally, we show biological relevance through a live immune-cell assay, where human immune cells migrate more rapidly in the presence of larger GAS clusters than in smaller clusters or single bacteria. These results demonstrate that DLD-based separation provides biologically meaningful fractions of bacterial aggregates and enables new analyses of how cluster size influences immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Lab on a Chip is the property of Royal Society of Chemistry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 192349668
AccessLevel: 6
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PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Size-based sorting of dynamic bacterial clusters.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akbari%2C+Elham%22">Akbari, Elham</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beech%2C+Jason+P%2E%22">Beech, Jason P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kumra+Ahnlide%2C+Johannes%22">Kumra Ahnlide, Johannes</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wrighton%2C+Sebastian%22">Wrighton, Sebastian</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nordenfelt%2C+Pontus%22">Nordenfelt, Pontus</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tegenfeldt%2C+Jonas+O%2E%22">Tegenfeldt, Jonas O.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jonas.tegenfeldt@ftf.lth.se</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Lab+on+a+Chip%22">Lab on a Chip</searchLink>. 3/17/2026, Vol. 26 Issue 6, p1890-1900. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+aggregation%22">Microbial aggregation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microfluidic+devices%22">Microfluidic devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cell+separation%22">Cell separation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Streptococcus+pyogenes%22">Streptococcus pyogenes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immune+response%22">Immune response</searchLink>
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  Data: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) forms highly deformable aggregates with broad variations in size and morphology, complicating controlled separation and biological analysis. Reliable methods to isolate fractions of GAS clusters with defined properties are essential for studying host–pathogen interactions that depend on cluster size. Here, we present a simple deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic device to separate complex suspensions of bacterial aggregates into two size-enriched fractions. We use a DLD with a small displacement angle to accommodate the large range of particle sizes above the critical size. We introduce an intermediate outlet, in addition to the conventional zigzag and displacement outlets, to collect the aggregates which exhibit a large dispersion due to their broad variety in shape and sizes close to the device critical diameter. In this way, we can demonstrate fractionation of GAS clusters with >90% purity based on effective size while causing minimal fragmentation or additional aggregation, as demonstrated by image analysis and dual-colour experiments. Finally, we show biological relevance through a live immune-cell assay, where human immune cells migrate more rapidly in the presence of larger GAS clusters than in smaller clusters or single bacteria. These results demonstrate that DLD-based separation provides biologically meaningful fractions of bacterial aggregates and enables new analyses of how cluster size influences immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Lab on a Chip is the property of Royal Society of Chemistry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1039/d5lc01111f
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1890
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      – SubjectFull: Microbial aggregation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microfluidic devices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cell separation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Streptococcus pyogenes
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      – SubjectFull: Immune response
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      – TitleFull: Size-based sorting of dynamic bacterial clusters.
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              Text: 3/17/2026
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              Y: 2026
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