An optical microsensor to measure fluorescent light intensity in biofilms.
We have developed an optical microsensor to quantify fluorescent light intensity distribution in biofilms. The optical system consisted of a beam splitter, light couplers, filters and a spectrophotometer able to accept the fiberoptic cable to measure fluorescent light intensity. The emitted light, fluorescence from the biofilm, was collected at the tip of the optical microsensor and was transferred to a spectrophotometer via a fiberoptic cable. The total fluorescent light intensity was evaluated from the emission spectrum by numerical integration. The newly developed fiberoptic microsensor was tested using a Staphylococcus aureus strain producing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) grown as biofilm. We used a 405-nm violet laser diode for excitation, and measured the emission intensity between 480 nm and 540 nm. The optical microsensor that quantifies fluorescent light intensity is a promising tool in biofilm research which often requires detection and quantification of fluorescent light intensity distribution generated by various fluorescent proteins.
Beyenal
Haluk
H
Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Room 366 EPS, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717-3980, USA.
Yakymyshyn
Chris
C
Hyungnak
Jeon
J
Davis
Catherine C
CC
Lewandowski
Zbigniew
Z
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005453:Fluorescence; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria