A high-throughput screening strategy for accurate quantification of erythromycin

A simple and rapid microplate-based bioassay was developed for the quantitative assay of erythromycin in Saccharopolyspora erythraea fermentation samples. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), colorimetric method and agar diffusion assay (ADA) were used as reference methods to evaluate the accuracy of this strategy. S. erythraea T-13 and its derivatives were used to assess the optimum assay conditions for erythromycin measurement and it was verified that this downscaled method was comparable to traditional assay methods for rapid quantification. Large number of isolates could be evaluated simultaneously within 4–5 h by using the high-throughput method. The cost effective method reported here demonstrates the successful application of a microplate assay for high throughput analysis, and could be potentially applicable to general antibiotics analysis.

► An economical and rapid microplate-based bioassay was developed for the quantitative assay of erythromycin.
► The microbioassay significantly increased throughput, hundreds of samples can be analyzed simultaneously within 4–5 h.
► The accuracy of high-throughput bioassay and the optimum assay conditions for erythromycin measurement was analyzed.
► This high-throughput bioassay could be potentially used for general antibiotics analysis in developing countries.