DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01378-09
ABSTRACT
The use of a specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori persisted inside biofilms exposed to low concentrations of chlorine (0.2 and 1.2 mg liter−1) for at least 26 days, although no culturable cells were recovered. Coupled with data obtained using viability stains in pure culture, this result suggests that H. pylori can survive chlorination but remain undetectable by culture methods, which can be effectively replaced by PNA hybridization.
FOOTNOTES
- Received 12 June 2009.
- Accepted 27 November 2009.
- ↵*Corresponding author. Mailing address: Environmental Healthcare Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Building 62, Boldrewood Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7PX, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 2380 592034. Fax: 44 2380 594459. E-mail: M.S.Giao{at}soton.ac.uk
↵▿ Published ahead of print on 4 December 2009.
- American Society for Microbiology
