AEM
Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Shahamat, M
Right arrow Articles by Colwell, R R
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Shahamat, M
Right arrow Articles by Colwell, R R
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Shahamat, M
Right arrow Articles by Colwell, R R

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993 April; 59(4): 1231-1235

Use of autoradiography to assess viability of Helicobacter pylori in water.

M Shahamat, U Mai, C Paszko-Kolva, M Kessel and R R Colwell

Maryland Biotechnology Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742.

ABSTRACT

Autoradiographic methods have been developed to detect metabolic activity of viable but nonculturable cells of Helicobacter pylori in water. Four strains of H. pylori were studied by using microcosms containing suspensions of 72-h cultures in water. The suspensions of aged, nonculturable cells of H. pylori were incubated with [3H]thymidine for 24 to 72 h, after which the cell suspensions were exposed to Kodak NTB2 emulsion for 3 to 28 days. Each sample was processed with three separate controls to rule out false-positive reactions. The organism remains viable and culturable under these conditions for up to 48 h and, in some cases, 20 to 30 days, depending on physical conditions of the environment. We found that temperature was a significant (P < or equal to 0.01) environmental factor associated with the viability of H. pylori cells in water. Autoradiographs of tritium-labeled cells of H. pylori revealed aggregations of silver grains associated with uptake by H. pylori of radiolabelled substrate. Findings based on the autoradiographic approach give strong evidence supporting the hypothesis that there is a waterborne route of infection for H. pylori. The possibility that H. pylori may persist in water in a metabolically active stage but not actively growing and dividing is intriguing and relevant to public health concerns.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993 April; 59(4): 1231-1235




This article has been cited by other articles:



Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
J. Bacteriol. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. Eukaryot. Cell All ASM Journals

Copyright © 1993 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.