MicroResp™
Rapid, functional assessment of soil microbial communities at field and regional scale
MicroResp™ is an innovative soil analysis system developed at the James Hutton Institute to rapidly assess microbial activity, a key indicator of soil health. This microplate-based technology provides robust, scalable data to support research, land management and environmental monitoring.
Application of MicroResp
A common use of the system is to measure substrate-induced respiration with a common set of soluble carbon substrates including sugars, amino acids, carboxylic acids and phenolics to generate Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPPs).
MicroResp allows flexibility to customise the 96-well plate design to incorporate specific substrates of interest to widen the scope of physiological profiling, or for toxicity testing, allowing us to customise the analysis to your needs.
The MicroResp system has been applied worldwide by scientists, industry and environmental agencies.
Clare Cameron, Ecological Sciences Research Assistant
What do we offer?
We offer an analytical service of Multi-Substrate-Induced Respiration (MSIR) measurements
We are flexible to carry out this measurement to specific requirements. The standard MSIR set-up consists of two samples per plate, measuring 15 substrates and water control in triplicate. The standard substrates cover a range of carbon sources ecologically relevant to metabolites present in soil. However, customers can request specific substrates subject to compatibility.
For more information and pricing please contact us.
We also sell the MicroResp™ system components enabling the researcher or analyst to carry out their own measurements
We are the sole distributor of the MicroResp products, distributing worldwide. Our team is available to offer purchasing advice and provide technical support.
To order, visit our website or email us
MicroResp™ is a laboratory method used to measure microbial activity in soil by analysing respiration responses to different carbon substrates. James Hutton Institute Scientific Services uses this technique to assess microbial community function and better understand soil health and ecosystem processes.
Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, organic matter breakdown and overall soil fertility. Using MicroResp™, James Hutton Institute Scientific Services can evaluate microbial activity and functional diversity, providing valuable insights into soil health and sustainable land management.
By measuring how soil microbes respond to different carbon sources, MicroResp analysis helps scientists understand how farming practices affect soil biology. James Hutton Institute Scientific Services provides this data to support sustainable soil management, improved crop productivity and resilient agricultural systems.
Contact for more information
Clare Cameron
Research Assistant
Based in Aberdeen
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Clare is a Research Assistant in the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Group within the Ecological Sciences. She has over 25 years’ experience in soil microbial ecology, using both phospholipid fatty acid analysis and physiological profiling methods to assess structure and function of soil microbial communities. Clare was jointly responsible for the development of MicroResp™ and currently manages the commercial aspects of the MicroResp™ product for James Hutton Limited.
