Epifluorescence microscope methods for bacterial enumeration in a 4-chloropheno...

• Author(s): Pacheco, C.C. ; Alves, C.C. ; Barreiros, L. ; Castro, P.M.L. ; Teixeira, P.C.M.
• Date: 2003
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/6835
• Origin: Veritati - Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica Portuguesa
• Subject(s): Degrading consortia; Fluorescence dyes; Starvation; Ultramicrocells; Viable but non-culturable bacteria
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Epifluorescence microscope methods, namely BacLight, direct epifluorescence filter technique and Rhodamine 123, consistently underestimated plate bacterial counts in a 4-chlorophenol degrading consortium. Cells capable of passing through 0.2 mgrm filters, referred as `ultramicrocells', were found. Although cell counts were higher when traditional methods were used, BacLight and direct epifluorescence filter technique were convenient techniques for the systematic monitoring of bacteria involved in biodegradation processes, as results were consistent and available within a short time.