Reduction of tellurite and deesterification of fluorescein diacetate are not well correlated with the viability of mycobacteria.
Both Mycobacterium leprae and M. lepraemurium (MLM) were capable of reducing tellurium as tellurite ion (Te4+) to elemental tellurium (Te), seen by electron microscopy as fine crystals within the bacterial cells. There appeared to be close correspondence between the capacity to reduce tellurite, bright green fluorescence after staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and the ability of M. smegmatis to multiply in culture. Likewise, there appeared to be correspondence between tellurite reduction and fluorescence after FDA staining for MLM subjected to prolonged storage in the cold or to heating at 70 degrees C. However, correspondence with tellurite-reduction or fluorescence after FDA staining was not observed when death of MLM occurred in vivo.
Mor
N
N
Department of Comparative Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem.
Resnick
M
M
Silbaq
F
F
Bercovier
H
H
Levy
L
L
D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013691:Tellurium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D005452:Fluoresceins; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C026660:tellurous acid; D013691:Tellurium; C018506:diacetylfluorescein