title: Rapid assessment of bacterial viability by flow cytometry.
abstract: The ability of a flow cytometer to rapidly assess microbial viability was investigated using three vital stains: rhodamine 123 (Rh123); 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide [DiOC6(3)] and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). Rh123 was found to clearly differentiate viable from non-viable bacteria. The methodology for staining bacteria with this dye was optimised. Rh123 was shown to stain and discriminate several different species of viable bacteria although this was not universal. Viable cells of Bacillus subtilis were found to stain better with FDA than with Rh123. The results demonstrate the ability of flow cytometry to rapidly detect and estimate the viability of bacterial populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Diaper
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tither
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020112:Rhodamine 123; D012235:Rhodamines; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D002232:Carbocyanines; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines; D020112:Rhodamine 123; C007392:3,3'-dihexyl-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine; C018506:diacetylfluorescein