A MATLAB/OCTAVE toolbox for analysis of BACTEC MGIT 960 data for mycobacterial growth

Abstract

We present a toolbox for automatized processing files, which contain output data on mycobacterial growth from BACTEC MGIT 960 system, and mathematical models addressed to peculiarities in the growth dynamics revealed from high-resolution records. The data processing includes reading a standardised spreadsheet, its formatting into datasets with respect to the hours of recording and BACTEC intensity units prepared for the subsequent analysis. The case studies reveal the combination of a general trend satisfying the Gompertz growth curve and a series of repeating growth shapes hypothesised as an exhibition of bacterial synchronization phenomena.