title: Observation of the dynamic germination of single bacterial spores using rapid Raman imaging.
abstract: The dynamics of bacterial spore germination were successfully observed using a fast Raman imaging system, in combination with real-time phase contrast microscopy. By using a multifocus scan scheme, the spontaneous Raman-scattering imaging acquisition speed was increased to ~30 s per frame while maintaining diffraction-limited resolution, which allowed monitoring of the dynamics of spore germination on a time scale of tens of seconds to a few minutes. This allowed simultaneous gathering of rich spatial distribution information on different cellular components including time-lapse molecular images of Ca-dipicolinic acid, protein, and nucleic acid during germination of single bacterial spores for the periods of 30 to 60 min.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University, Department of Physics, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353, USA.
authors.forename: Lingbo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
authors.forename: Yong-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010848:Picolinic Acids; C004860:dipicolinic acid