Online flow cytometry, an interesting investigation process for monitoring lipid accumulation, dimorphism, and cells' growth in the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica JMY 775.

This study aims to understand and better control the main biological mechanisms and parameters modulating the various phenomena affecting Yarrowia lipolytica JMY775 and its lipids accumulation. The results obtained in this study stress forward that the use of an original tool, consisting of coupling bioreactors to online flow cytometry, is highly efficient. Throughout 48 h of culturing, this emerging process allowed an online continuous observation of the effects of pH and/or aeration on the cell growth and dimorphism and lipid accumulation by Y. lipolytica. This present study showed clearly that online flow cytometry is an advantageous tool for the real-time monitoring of microbial culture at a single-cell level. Indeed, the present investigation showed for the first time that profiling of the various phenomena and their monitoring upon culture time is now possible by coupling online cytometry with culture bioreactors.