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A sensitive and rapid method to determine the viability of freeze-dried bacterial cells
N Parthuisot1, P Catala, P Lebaron
1Observatoire Océanologique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR7621, Institut des Sciences de l'Univers, BP44, F-66651 Banyuls-sur-Mer Cedex, France.
Aims:
To determine the potential use of flow cytometry for viability asssessment of freeze-dried bacterial cells.
Methods And Results:
Escherichia coli CIP 54.8T and Vibrio metschnikovii CIP 104262 were analysed. The viability of freeze-dried cells resuspended in a nutrient broth was evaluated by culture whereas activity was determined by flow cytometry analysis of both esterase activity and cell death. Activity assessment by flow cytometry was found to be a rapid and good indicator of cell viability and was very efficient for quality control. For V. metschnikovii the fraction of active cells varies greatly depending on the freeze-drying procedure and within a given procedure.
Conclusions, Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Bacterial activity assessment by flow cytometry is very efficient for the control of freeze-dried cells.