Functional single-cell analyses: flow cytometry and cell sorting of microbial populations and communities

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Bacterial phylogenetic affiliations, metabolic capabilities, and functions remain poorly understood.
• Traditional cultivation methods limit the study of microbial diversity and function.
• Understanding microbial consortia requires insights into single-cell physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the state-of-the-art application of flow cytometry in microbiology.
• To highlight how flow cytometry aids in studying microbial functioning at the single-cell level.
• To discuss advancements in analyzing microbial populations and communities.

Main Methods:

• Application of advanced flow cytometric and cell sorting technologies.
• Single-cell analysis without relying on cultivation.
• Utilizing specific staining, phylogenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches.

Main Results:

• Flow cytometry enables the study of microbial physiology and diversity at the single-cell level.
• It overcomes limitations of traditional cultivation methods for exploring microbial functions.
• The technology provides insights into the heterogeneity of microbial populations.

Conclusions:

• Flow cytometry is a key technology for uncovering microbial functioning and diversity.
• It facilitates a deeper understanding of microbial communities and their concerted actions.
• Combining flow cytometry with other omics approaches offers advanced insights into microbial heterogeneity.