I’m stuck in a rabbit hole literature review and am coming to the conclusion that nobody yet has the optimum trace element solution, let alone experimental electrode or bioreactor configuration. There are so many parameters we could optimise.
At the same time - if our main search is for the optimal HOB - we need to be using standard experimental conditions. If, from 20 options, my HOB gives half the yield of yours but you’re using twice as much iron - how do we know which HOB deserves further investigation?
I’m thinking we need to first home in on a standard experiment for wild HOB enrichment that we can use to compare apples with apples. From there we get the best candidates and then re-optimise the fermentations for them.
I met with Stefan Bostock last week and he agreed to give any and all of us access to a free version of Danu Insights’ platform - the only catch being that he’s looking for feedback on how they can improve it. I’ll let Stefan introduce himself here, then if you DM him with your email address, he can whitelist it.
It would be great if we could discuss here how we use tools like this, literature and other methods to determine the standard experimental conditions for round one of our wild HOB community search. And critically, how do we know when it’s good enough?