Bioluminescence intensity difference observed in luminous bacteria groups with different motility

Aims:  The aim of this study was to compare the luminescent intensity of bioluminescence from marine luminous bacteria with different motility.
Methods and Results:  Luminescent bacteria were separated according to their motility using a microfluidic device. The cell densities of the separated samples were measured using a counting plate. The luminescent intensity of the separated samples was measured using a luminometer. The luminescent intensity per cell was calculated, and the values from the mobile (swimmers) and the nonmobile cells (nonswimmers) per single cell were compared; as a result, the former were proved to be larger than the latter.
Conclusions:  Microfluidics were shown to be effective for the separation of bioluminescent bacteria and the bioluminescent intensity difference per cell was recognized with this experiment.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study introduced for the first time a method to examine the individual cell function of Photobacterium kishitanii .