Scientific research continues to rely on accurate and reproducible microbiological methods to address challenges in healthcare, food production, environmental monitoring, biotechnology, and materials science.
At IUL, we are proud to see our laboratory equipment being used by researchers around the world and referenced in peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Following our previous compilation of publications using IUL equipment, we have expanded our database with new studies published during 2025 and 2026.
The latest additions highlight applications of instruments including Eddy Jet, SphereFlash®, Flash & Go, Masticator, and Spin Air Basic across a remarkably broad range of research fields.
Fighting antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the most important challenges in modern microbiology.
A 2026 study published in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance investigated how Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations evolve during repeated antibiotic exposure in intensive care patients. The researchers observed collateral susceptibility alongside changes in multidrug-resistant phenotypes, suggesting that antibiotic diversification could potentially exploit evolutionary trade-offs in resistant bacterial populations.[1]
IUL instrument used: Eddy Jet
Another study examined extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis in a rabbit model. Combining cefiderocol with PolyTrim produced the strongest therapeutic effect, achieving a major reduction in bacterial burden and helping prevent intraocular spread and corneal perforation.[2]
IUL instruments used: Eddy Jet and Flash & Go
Research involving Klebsiella pneumoniae has also expanded our understanding of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity. A 2025 study investigated differences in adhesion, invasion, intracellular survival, and resistance to host defenses among different K. pneumoniae pathotypes, including ESBL-producing and hypervirulent strains.[3]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
New approaches to antimicrobial surfaces
A particularly active area of recent research involving IUL instruments is the development of materials designed to prevent bacterial attachment, biofouling, and infection.
Researchers developing bio-inspired superhydrophobic coatings containing zinc and copper combined strong water repellence with catalytic nitric oxide generation. The optimized material produced approximately 99.99% and 99.79% reductions in surface-adhered Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively.[4]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Another research team developed a polymeric matrix combining nitric oxide and propolis release. The material demonstrated broad antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and Candida albicans, with sustained activity against S. aureus after incubation for up to 28 days.[5]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Researchers have also investigated nitric oxide-releasing lubricants incorporated into PDMS. These materials maintained lubricity and physiological nitric oxide release for up to 14 days while reducing bacterial viability, protein fouling, and platelet adhesion.[6]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Together, these publications demonstrate how microbiological instrumentation contributes not only to conventional microbiology laboratories but also to the development and validation of next-generation biomedical materials.
Supporting food safety and food innovation
IUL instruments continue to appear frequently in food microbiology research.
One study evaluated the survival and recovery of Listeria monocytogenes in salmon and pork subjected to sous vide cooking at 55 °C. The researchers found that treatment at this temperature did not reliably eliminate the pathogen, with survival, sublethal injury, and post-treatment recovery influenced by bacterial strain, food matrix, and heating profile.[7]
IUL instruments used: Eddy Jet, Masticator, and Flash & Go
Another study investigated yeasts isolated from Spanish dry-cured ham as potential sources of mycoprotein. Among the microorganisms evaluated, Debaryomyces hansenii showed particularly high protein content, highlighting its potential for the development of alternative protein ingredients.[8]
IUL instruments used: Eddy Jet and Spin Air Basic
Research into plant-derived antimicrobials has also produced interesting results. Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) extract inhibited E. coli in a concentration-dependent manner and reduced coliform and total aerobic bacterial growth in lightly pickled vegetables, supporting its potential as a natural food-safety intervention.[9]
IUL instrument used: Eddy Jet
Understanding dairy microbiology
Several new publications demonstrate the importance of microbiological analysis throughout dairy production.
Research published in the Journal of Dairy Science examined how dairy farm characteristics and management practices influence microbiological, chemical, and sensory measures of bulk tank raw milk quality. The findings showed that farm-level practices were associated with several measures of milk quality.[10]
IUL instrument used: SphereFlash®
Another study used machine-learning models and samples from 102 certified organic dairy farms across 11 U.S. states to investigate bacterial spore levels in organic bulk tank milk. Factors including farm characteristics, management practices, and meteorological conditions contributed to variation in bacterial spore levels.[11]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Other research showed that the composition of spore-forming bacterial populations in U.S. organic raw milk varies significantly according to climate region, emphasizing the influence of environmental conditions on raw milk microbiota.[12]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Environmental microbiology and water safety
Environmental applications represent another important area within the growing IUL publication database.
One study investigated photocatalysis-assisted water remediation using porous titanium dioxide nanowire foams. Under UV activation, the system achieved a 2–3 log reduction in E. coli within 180 minutes while enabling 98–99% catalyst recovery through mechanical separation.[13]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
Research into cattle feedyards has also identified viable bacteria of public-health relevance together with antimicrobial-resistance determinants in fugitive bioaerosols, supporting airborne dust as a potential route for environmental dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.[14]
IUL instrument used: Eddy Jet
Biotechnology and industrial fermentation
Microbiology also plays an essential role in industrial biotechnology.
A 2026 study investigated domain shuffling of the bacteriophage endolysin LysKB317 to generate variants capable of controlling Limosilactobacillus fermentum during corn mash fermentation. Selected constructs altered bacteriolytic activity and thermostability and were able to prevent stalled fermentation caused by bacterial contamination.[15]
IUL instruments used: Eddy Jet and Flash & Go
Other researchers investigated Leuconostoc strains isolated from sugar beet factories and identified substantial strain-to-strain differences in growth and biofilm formation. Some isolates developed robust, shear-resistant biofilms, providing insight into how these microorganisms may persist in industrial processing environments.[16]
IUL instruments used: SphereFlash® and Eddy Jet
One growing publication database
These examples represent only a selection of the scientific publications recently added to our database.
Our updated publication list includes research involving IUL instruments across:
- Clinical microbiology
- Food science and food safety
- Environmental microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Livestock and dairy research
- Material science
- Biomedical engineering
- Medical-device research
The diversity of these applications demonstrates how reliable microbiological workflows support research far beyond traditional colony counting.
Download the updated IUL Instruments Scientific Publication List to explore the complete collection.
References
[1] van der Schalk, T. E., Berkell, M., Hottebeekx, A., et al. (2026). Phenotypic convergence and collateral susceptibility development in Pseudomonas aeruginosa under antibiotic exposure in ICU patients. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, 4, Article 38. DOI: 10.1038/s44259-026-00199-3.
[2] Romanowski, E. G., Young, E. K., Mandell, J. B., et al. (2026). Enhanced efficacy of cefiderocol with PolyTrim combination therapy in a rabbit model of extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 67(5), 48. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.67.5.48.
[3] Klaper, K., Pfeifer, Y., Heinrich, L., et al. (2025). Enhanced invasion and survival of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae pathotypes in host cells and strain-specific replication in blood. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 15, 1522573. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1522573.
[4] Metal-siloxanes derived bio-inspired superhydrophobicity and nitric oxide generation for anti-biofouling clinical applications. (2026). Journal of Materials Chemistry B. DOI: 10.1039/d6tb01036a.
[5] Engineering a dual-action nitric oxide and propolis releasing polymeric matrix for extended antimicrobial efficacy. (2026). Journal of Materials Chemistry B. DOI: 10.1039/d6tb00666c.
[6] Nguyen, G. H., Garren, M., Pinon, V. D., Clary, M., Handa, H., & Brisbois, E. J. (2026). Sustained nitric oxide-releasing aliphatic lubricants: Infusion in polymers for enhanced slippery and antibacterial efficacy. Biomaterials Advances, 188, 214970. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.214970.
[7] Vila-Brugalla, M., Rivera-Sánchez, S. M., Roig-Sagués, A. X., Hernández-Herrero, M. M., et al. (2025). Predictive modelling of Listeria monocytogenes survival and recovery in salmon and pork subjected to sous vide cooking at 55 °C. International Journal of Food Microbiology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111516.
[8] Viveros-Lizondo, N., García-Béjar, B., Coso-Cuevas, E., Soriano, A., & Arévalo-Villena, M. (2025). Ham yeasts: Exploring mycoprotein potential production of yeasts isolated from Spanish dry-cured ham. ACS Food Science & Technology, 5, 3920–3928. DOI: 10.1021/acsfoodscitech.5c00671.
[9] Potential use of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) extract as a natural antimicrobial agent against Escherichia coli in lightly pickled vegetables. (2026). Access Microbiology. DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.001073.v3.
[10] From sporeformers to sensory: Measures of bulk tank raw milk quality are affected by dairy farm characteristics and management practices. (2026). Journal of Dairy Science. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2025-27772.
[11] A machine learning approach reveals that bacterial spore levels in organic bulk tank milk are dependent on farm characteristics and meteorological factors. (2025). Journal of Food Protection. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100477.
[12] Diverse spore-forming bacterial populations in US organic raw milk are driven by climate region. (2025). Journal of Dairy Science. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-26045.
[13] Photocatalysis-assisted water remediation using porous nanowire foams. (2025). Water, 17(4), 462. DOI: 10.3390/w17040462.
[14] Comprehensive analysis of E. coli, Enterococcus spp., Salmonella enterica, and antimicrobial resistance determinants in fugitive bioaerosols from cattle feedyards. (2025). Applied Microbiology, 5(3), 63. DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol5030063.
[15] Domain shuffling of endolysin LysKB317 to control Limosilactobacillus fermentum in corn mash fermentation. (2026). Biotechnology Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2026.e00973.
[16] Joshi, S., Bruni, G. O., Zimmerman, T., Terrell, E., Salter, J., Kashem, M. N. H., & Nam, S. (2026). Phenotypic variation in growth and biofilm formation of Leuconostoc spp. from sugar beet factories. Frontiers in Microbiology, 16, 1745936. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1745936.
Are you using IUL instruments in your research?
We are always interested in learning how researchers use IUL equipment.
If you have published a scientific paper involving an IUL instrument and it is not yet included in our database, please contact us and share your publication.
Selected studies may also be highlighted through the IUL website and our LinkedIn page, helping us showcase the scientific work being carried out by laboratories using IUL technology around the world.