title: Intrinsic properties of so-called dormant probiotic bacteria, determined by flow cytometric viability assays.
abstract: Plate counting and four culture-independent flow cytometric assays were used to determine the viability and intrinsic properties of three probiotic strains during storage. The strains showed reduction in plate counts but were able to maintain esterase activity, intact cytoplasmic membrane, and pH gradient. The apparently uncultivable probiotic cells were active and stress resistant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland. sajola@utu.fi
authors.forename: Sampo J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: Arthur C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ouwehand
authors.forename: Johanna P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reinikainen
authors.forename: Jaakko M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandholm
authors.forename: Seppo J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Salminen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D004950:Esterases