This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roszak, D B Articles by Colwell, R R Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roszak, D B Articles by Colwell, R R Agricola Articles by Roszak, D B Articles by Colwell, R R

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 December; 53(12): 2889-2893

Metabolic activity of bacterial cells enumerated by direct viable count.

Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park.

ABSTRACT

The direct viable count (DVC) method was modified by incorporating radiolabeled substrates in microautoradiographic analyses to assess bacterial survival in controlled laboratory microcosms. The DVC method, which permits enumeration of culturable and nonculturable cells, discriminates those cells that are responsive to added nutrients but in which division is inhibited by the addition of nalidixic acid. The resulting elongated cells represent all viable cells; this includes those that are culturable on routine media and those that are not. Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis were employed in the microcosm studies, and radiolabeled substrates included [methyl-3H]thymidine or [U-14C]glutamic acid. Samples taken at selected intervals during the survival experiments were examined by epifluorescence microscopy to enumerate cells by the DVC and acridine orange direct count methods, as well as by culture methods. Good correlation was obtained for cell-associated metabolic activity, measured by microautoradiography and substrate responsiveness (by the DVC method) at various stages of survival. Of the cells responsive to nutrients by the DVC method, ca. 90% were metabolically active by the microautoradiographic method. No significant difference was observed between DVC enumerations with or without added radiolabeled substrate.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Peneau, S., Chassaing, D., Carpentier, B. (2007). First Evidence of Division and Accumulation of Viable but Nonculturable Pseudomonas fluorescens Cells on Surfaces Subjected to Conditions Encountered at Meat Processing Premises. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 2839-2846 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cuny, C., Lesbats, M., Dukan, S. (2007). Induction of a Global Stress Response during the First Step of Escherichia coli Plate Growth. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 885-889 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Faruque, S. M., Biswas, K., Udden, S. M. N., Ahmad, Q. S., Sack, D. A., Nair, G. B., Mekalanos, J. J. (2006). Transmissibility of cholera: In vivo-formed biofilms and their relationship to infectivity and persistence in the environment. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 6350-6355 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rose, L. J., Donlan, R., Banerjee, S. N., Arduino, M. J. (2003). Survival of Yersinia pestis on Environmental Surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 2166-2171 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Makino, S.-I., Kii, T., Asakura, H., Shirahata, T., Ikeda, T., Takeshi, K., Itoh, K. (2000). Does Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Enter the Viable but Nonculturable State in Salted Salmon Roe?. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 5536-5539 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Caro, A., Got, P., Lesne, J., Binard, S., Baleux, B. (1999). Viability and Virulence of Experimentally Stressed Nonculturable Salmonella typhimurium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3229-3232 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hartke, A., Giard, J.-C., Laplace, J.-M., Auffray, Y. (1998). Survival of Enterococcus faecalis in an Oligotrophic Microcosm: Changes in Morphology, Development of General Stress Resistance, and Analysis of Protein Synthesis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 4238-4245 [Abstract] [Full Text]