Evaluation of the cell growth of mycobacteria using Mycobacterium smegmatis mc^sup 2^ 155 as a representative species

The study of the in vitro cell growth of mycobacteria still remains a fastidious, difficult, and time-consuming procedure. In addition, assessing mycobacterial growth in the laboratory is often complicated by cell aggregation and slow growth-rate. We now report that the use of a stainless steel spri...

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Published inThe journal of microbiology Vol. 50; no. 3; p. 419
Main Authors Gonzalez-y-merchand, Jorge A, Zaragoza-contreras, Ruben, Guadarrama-medina, Rosalina, Helguera-repetto, Addy C, Rivera-gutierrez, Sandra, Cerna-cortes, Jorge F, Santos-argumedo, Leopoldo, Cox, Robert A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Seoul Springer Nature B.V 01.06.2012
Subjects
Cell division
Cell growth
Cell morphology
Flow cytometry
Microorganisms
Microscopy
Morphology
Physiology
Stainless steel
Tuberculosis
Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
United Kingdom > UK
Mexico
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Summary:The study of the in vitro cell growth of mycobacteria still remains a fastidious, difficult, and time-consuming procedure. In addition, assessing mycobacterial growth in the laboratory is often complicated by cell aggregation and slow growth-rate. We now report that the use of a stainless steel spring in the culture led to an absence of large cell clumps, to a decrease of dead cells in the exponential phase and to growth of a more homogeneous population of large cells. We also report that flow cytometry is a rapid, simple and reliable approach to monitor mycobacterial cell growth and viability. Here, we monitored Mycobacterium smegmatis cellular growth by optical density, dry cell mass, and colony forming units; in addition, viability, cell size and granularity profiles were analyzed by flow cytometry, and cell morphology by electron microscopy. Cultures monitored by flow cytometry may lead to a better understanding of the physiology of mycobacteria. Moreover, this methodology may aid in characterizing the cell growth of other fastidious species of microorganisms.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1225-8873
1976-3794
DOI:10.1007/s12275-012-1556-0