Flow cytometric narrow-angle light scatter and cell size during starvation of Escherichia coli in artificial sea water

Flow cytometry was used to study starvation of Escherichia coli in artificial sea water. Flow cytometric narrow-angle light scatter was compared and assessed in relation to the cell sizes obtained by scanning electron microscopy at low temperature, and by image analysis. A correlation between narrow-angle light scatter and cell size was not observed, although an acceptable correlation (γ= -0.845) between narrow-angle light scatter and the starvation period was observed. On the other hand, the distribution of narrow-angle light scatter at any given moment of culture is asymmetric and may be associated with the cell size distribution at the specific moment of starvation.