title: Comparison of methods for measuring viable E. coli cells during cultivation: great differences in the early and late exponential growth phases.
abstract: Four methods, namely enumeration of colony-forming units (CFU), aerobic respiration, MTT reduction capacity and succinate dehydrogenase activity were compared to determine the viability of E. coli cells at the early and late exponential growth phases. Our results revealed that great differences in cell viability existed between these methods and that the choice of method to determine cell viability must be made with caution.
authors.affiliation: Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
authors.forename: Hengwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Dongzhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Fengqing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D010100:Oxygen