Automatic Mapping of Viable Microbial Cells Distributed in the Surface Layer of Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

Viable microbial cells distributed in a 130 g m thick surface layer of cotton fabrics were stained with a fluorescent glucose, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-y1) amino] -2-deoxy-Dglucose (2-NBDG), and automatically mapped with an ultra-deep focusing range microscope (UDF) system. The software of the UDF system was upgraded and the number of Candida albicans cells could be counted at a higher precision than before. Bacterial cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, and Citrobacter freundll, which were smaller than 1-2 gm, were successfully mapped for the first time. These results indicate the practical importance of the present method in the evaluation of the antibacterial properties of fabrics and the efficacy of washing.

Visualization of yeast single-cells on fabric surface with a fluorescent glucose and their isolation for culture

“…The detailed components of the UDF Xuorescent system are described previously [4,5]. Ultra long distance industrial optical lenses (CFI Plan EPI SLWD 50 and 30, NIKON Co., working distance 17.0 and 24.0 mm, respectively) and a semi-automatic cell injection manipulator (InjectMan NI2, Eppendorf Co.) were integrated to assemble a cell manipulation system (Fig.…”

“…Currently, urgent needs exist in the detection of food pathogens in cooking environment [11,17] and microbial growth in damp garments after the laundry washing process [10,14]. To meet these needs, we have recently developed a ultra-deep focusing range (UDF) Xuorescent microscope system and applied it successfully to the evaluation of microbial cell removal from fabrics [4], and to the automatic mapping of viable microbial cells being distributed in the surface layer of cotton fabrics [5]. The next step is to isolate those single-cells for their identiWcation.…”