Radiolabeled microorganisms: comparison of different radioisotopic labels

Radioactively labeled microorganisms are very useful in assessing the in vitro phagocytic capability of human granulocytes and macrophages. Since microorganisms contain amino acids and nucleic acids, they can be radiolabeled by addition of radioactive amino acid and/or nucleic acid components to the culture medium. The isotopes 3H, 14C, 32P, 35S, and 75Se-have been used for bacterial radiolabeling. All of these commonly used isotopes with the exception of 75Se are beta emitters; 75Se is a gamma emitter. The half-lives of these isotopes vary from 14 days for 32P to 5,730 years for 14C. Because of the differences in their physical properties, they pose very different handling problems and require different kinds of safety precautions. In the event of either external or internal contamination, beta emitters deliver a larger localized radiation dose than do gamma emitters. In the case of internal contamination, the radiation dose increases with increases in the half-life of the radioactive isotope. Gamma radiation, on the other hand, is more penetrating than are beta particles and thus a gamma emitter requires appropriate shielding. Both the cost and the special problem of manipulation associated with these radioactive chemicals should be carefully considered before deciding which radioisotope is preferable for the labeling of microorganisms in the laboratory. In spite of the limitations of 75Se as a nonphysiologic element, it offers the simplest methods of handling among the isotopes considered in this review.