title: Detection and classification of live and dead Escherichia coli by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
abstract: A common goal for astrobiology is to detect organic materials that may indicate the presence of life. However, organic materials alone may not be representative of currently living systems. Thus, it would be valuable to have a method with which to determine the health of living materials. Here, we present progress toward this goal by reporting on the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to study characteristics of live and dead cells using Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain K12 cells as a model organism since its growth and death in the laboratory are well understood. Our goal is to determine whether LIBS, in its femto- and/or nanosecond forms, could ascertain the state of a living organism. E. coli strain K12 cells were grown, collected, and exposed to one of two types of inactivation treatments: autoclaving and sonication. Cells were also kept alive as a control. We found that LIBS yields key information that allows for the discrimination of live and dead E. coli bacteria based on ionic shifts reflective of cell membrane integrity.
authors: 1 Optical Science Center for Applied Research and Applications, Department of Physics and Engineering, Delaware State University , Dover, Delaware.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sivakumar
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fernández-Bravo
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Taleh
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Biddle
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Melikechi
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018559:Exobiology / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013010:Sonication; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014131:Trace Elements
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014131:Trace Elements; D010758:Phosphorus; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium