title: Multi-parameter flow cytometry and cell sorting reveal extensive physiological heterogeneity in Bacillus cereus batch cultures.
abstract: Based on two staining protocols, DiOC(6)(3)/propidium iodide (PI) and RedoxSensor Green (an indicator of bacterial reductase activity)/PI, multi-parameter flow cytometry and cell sorting has identified at least four distinguishable physiological states during batch cultures of Bacillus cereus. Furthermore, dependent on the position in the growth curve, single cells gave rise to varying numbers of colonies when sorted individually onto nutrient agar plates. These growing colonies derived from a single cell had widely different lag phases, inferred from differences in colony size. This further highlights the complex population dynamics of bacterial monocultures and further demonstrates that individual bacterial cells in a culture respond in markedly dissimilar ways to the environment, resulting in a physiologically heterogenous and dynamic population.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Want
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hancocks
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stocks
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nebe-von-Caron
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hewitt
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes