The ability of membrane potential dyes and calcafluor white to distinguish between viable and non-viable bacteria |
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Authors: | DJ Mason R Lopéz-Amorós R Allman JM Stark D Lloyd |
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Institution: | School of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, Cardiff, UK |
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Abstract: | Various dyes were assessed for their ability to discriminate between viable and non-viable bacteria. Two methods of killing were employed: by heat treatment or by gramicidin treatment. Staining was carried out in two ways; by staining directly in the medium or by washing cells prior to staining in buffer. Carbocyanine and rhodamine 123 dyes only exhibited small changes in fluorescence between viable and non-viable populations of bacteria. Both oxonol dye (bis 1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid trimethine oxonol) and calcafluor white proved much more useful. |
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