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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.02.27.582145

Introducing ARTiMiS: A low-cost flow imaging microscope for phytoplankton monitoring in engineered and natural environments

Gincley, B.·Khan, F.·Hartnett, E.·Fisher, A.·Pinto, A. J.
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Abstract

Manual microscopy is the gold standard for phytoplankton monitoring in diverse engineered and natural environments. However, it is both labor-intensive and requires specialized training for accuracy and consistency, and therefore difficult to implement on a routine basis without significant time investment. Automation can reduce this burden by simplifying the measurement to a single indicator (e.g., chlorophyll fluorescence) measurable by a probe, or by processing samples on an automated cytometer for more granular information. The cost of commercially available flow imaging cytometers, however, poses a steep financial barrier to adoption. To overcome these labor and cost barriers, we developed ARTiMiS: the Autonomous Real-Time Microbial Scope. The ARTiMiS is a low-cost flow imaging microscopy-based platform with onboard software capable of providing species-level quantitation of phytoplankton communities in real-time. ARTiMiS leverages novel multi-modal imaging and onboard machine learning-based data processing that is currently optimized for a curated and expandable database of industrially relevant microalgae. We demonstrate its operational limits, performance in identification of laboratory-cultivated microalgae, and potential for continuous monitoring of complex microalgal communities in full-scale cultivation systems. SynopsisWe introduce a platform for low-cost real-time imaging monitoring of phytoplankton and demonstrate its utility in real-time monitoring of laboratory- and full-scale microalgal cultivation systems.

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Gincley, B., Khan, F., Hartnett, E., Fisher, A., Pinto, A. J.. 2024-03-03. Introducing ARTiMiS: A low-cost flow imaging microscope for phytoplankton monitoring in engineered and natural environments. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.02.27.582145

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