Use of the green fluorescent protein to rapidly assess viability of E. coli in preserved solutions.
E. coli strain HB101 was genetically engineered to a fluorescent phenotype by transformation with a plasmid containing complementary DNA for a green fluorescent protein. The level of fluorescence in the transformed strain was directly proportional to the number of viable cells. There was a rapid decrease in fluorescence when transformed cells were inoculated into lamivudine solutions containing ten different preservative formulations. The decrease in fluorescence correlated to a decrease in the number of viable cells, allowing the relative antimicrobial properties of each solution to be compared. This methods provides a simple, rapid (< 2 min/assay), and accurate means of determining the effects of antimicrobial solutions on the viability of E. coli.
Casey
W M
WM
GlaxoWellcome, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Nguyen
N A
NA
D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000032:analysis; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010641:Phenotype; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019259:Lamivudine