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Bacteria Counting and Enumeration Assays for Flow Cytometry
Our bacteria counting and enumeration assays for flow cytometry contain a mixture of fluorescent nucleic acid stains for bacterial identification, as well as a calibrated suspension of beads for accurate sample volume measurements. Accurate detection and enumeration of the live and dead bacteria in a sample is an important aspect of many experimental procedures in biotechnology.
Bacteria cell counting assay
The Bacteria Counting Kit for flow cytometry accurately enumerates bacteria. The kit includes the SYTO BC dye, a high-affinity nucleic acid stain that easily penetrates both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, producing an exceptionally bright green-fluorescent signal. The kit also includes a calibrated suspension of polystyrene microspheres. Signals from both the stained bacteria and the beads are easily detected in the green fluorescence channel and can be distinguished on a plot of forward scatter versus fluorescence. The density of the bacteria in the sample can be determined from the ratio of bacterial signals to microsphere signals in the cytogram.
Figure 1. Enumeration of Bacillus cereus using the Bacteria Counting Kit for flow cytometry. Bacteria stained with the SYTO BC bacterial cell stain and mixed with known concentrations of weakly fluorescent 6 µm polystyrene microsphere standards produce a bivariate frequency distribution for forward light scatter versus green fluorescence intensity that allows the bacterial population number to be determined by reference to the clearly separated microsphere standard population, indicated by red data points.
| Conjugate | Laser | Ex/Em* | Cat. No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteria Counting Kit | 488 nm | 480/500 nm | B7277 |
| * Indicates excitation and emission. | |||
Bacteria cell counting and viability assay
The LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability and Bacteria Counting Kit allows researchers to reliably distinguish and quantitate live and dead bacteria with the aid by flow cytometry, even in a mixed population containing a range of bacterial types. This kit uses a mixture of two nucleic acid stains—green-fluorescent SYTO 9 dye and red-fluorescent propidium iodide—for viability determinations, and a calibrated suspension of microspheres for accurate sample volume measurements.
Figure 2. Analysis of bacterial cultures using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability and Bacteria Counting Kit. Suspensions of live (untreated) and dead (alcohol-treated) Staphylococcus aureus (panels A and C) and Escherichia coli (panels B and D) were stained with the SYTO 9 nucleic acid stain and propidium iodide and then analyzed by flow cytometry according to the kit protocol. The green or red fluorescence versus side scatter cytogram (panel A or B) was used to gate the bacterial population and the bead population (left and right boxes, respectively). Events in the bacteria region of each cytogram are also displayed in red fluorescence versus green fluorescence cytograms (panels C and D). Live and dead bacteria/mL can be calculated from either the fluorescence versus side scatter cytogram or the green fluorescence versus red fluorescence cytogram, depending on which one shows the best separation of the live and dead populations. The position of the live and dead populations in these cytograms may be dependent on cell type and gram character. Some samples may exhibit events that fall outside the defined regions and should be evaluated appropriately (e.g., see panel D).
| Product | Laser | Ex/Em* | Apoptotic cel stain | Dead cell stain | Cat. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability and Bacteria Counting Kit | 488nm | 480/500 nm (L) 490/635 nm (D) | SYTO 9 | Propidium Iodide | L34856 |
| * Indicates excitation and emission. L = Live, D = Dead. | |||||
See citations for the LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability and Bacteria Counting Kit
Resources
Fluorophore and reagent selection guide for flow cytometry
Download Flow Cytometry Protocols Handbook
Spectral Flow Cytometry Fundamentals
Invitrogen eBioscience Resources—Selection guides, Best Protocols, product performance and more.
Intracellular Staining for Flow Cytometry How-To Video—for detecting cytokines and intranuclear markers.
Flow Cytometry Learning Center—Access flow cytometry educational resources for better experiment planning and execution.
Flow Cytometry Panel Builder—Design your flow cytometry panel with this online tool for a simplified, customizable experience to fit your needs.
5 Steps Resources
Support
Flow Cytometry Support Center—Find technical support recommendations for your flow cytometry workflows, including tips for experimental setup and in-depth troubleshooting help.
Flow Cytometry Panel Design Support—Work with one of our technical sales specialists to discuss your experimental needs and guide you through the process.
Not for resale. Super Bright Polymer Dyes are sold under license from Becton, Dickinson and Company.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.