Detection of Micrococcus Luteus Using a Wireless Magnetoelastic Sensing Device

The real-time detection of Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus) concentrations is described using a remote query (wireless, passive) magnetoelastic sensor. The resonance frequency of a liquid-immersed magnetoelastic sensor, measured through magnetic field telemetry, changes in response to property changes of a liquid culture medium as M. luteus consumes nutrients from the culture medium in growth and reproduction. Using the described technique, the concentration of M. luteus was quantified from 10³ to 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹, and the salt tolerability of M. luteus was also investigated, which was demonstrated as an application of the sensor. The lack of any physical connections between the sensor and the monitoring electronics facilitates aseptic operation, and makes the sensor platform ideally suited for monitoring bacteria from within, for example, sealed food containers.