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Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis
Published on: January 26, 2018
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Single-cell analysis of mycobacteria using microfluidics and time-lapse microscopy
1Laboratory of Microbiology and Microsystems, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, Office SV 3832, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland, neeraj.dhar@epfl.ch.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 18, 2015
Summary
Investigating bacterial individuality requires new methods. Time-lapse microscopy allows single-cell analysis of mycobacteria, revealing insights into gene expression and stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Phenotypic heterogeneity is critical for bacterial physiology and adaptation.
- Understanding bacterial individuality necessitates advanced single-cell analysis techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present protocols for time-lapse imaging of mycobacteria at the single-cell level.
- To enable detailed investigation of bacterial phenotypic diversity and dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Time-lapse microscopy using agarose pads.
- Time-lapse microscopy utilizing customized microfluidic devices.
- Image analysis with software like ImageJ.
Main Results:
- Acquisition of image sequences for mycobacteria.
- Extraction of growth and gene expression dynamics parameters.
- Unraveling the physiological basis of stress persistence.
Conclusions:
- Time-lapse microscopy is a powerful tool for single-cell bacterial studies.
- Protocols facilitate the investigation of mycobacterial heterogeneity and adaptive responses.
- This approach aids in understanding bacterial persistence mechanisms.
