Patent ID: 8703479

Claim:
A method for co-culturing viable cells and growing microorganisms comprising: providing an adhesion module comprising a basal compartment and a luminal compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane; said membrane having an artificial mucus layer applied on its luminal side; wherein said module exhibits anaerobic conditions at its luminal side and aerobic conditions at its basal side; wherein the basal compartment of the module comprises viable cells; and wherein one or more growing microorganisms are attached to said artificial mucus layer; and applying a continuous or semi-continuous flow of fresh growth medium to the luminal compartment creating shear forces applied to the surface of the mucus layer which allows co-culturing of said viable cells and growing microorganisms for at least 48 hours; wherein the flow into said luminal chamber is in a counter current direction from the flow into said basal chamber.