Detection and Discrimination of Bacterial Colonies with Mueller Matrix Imaging

Abstract

The polarization imaging technique is a powerful approach to probe microstructural and optical information of biological structures (e.g., tissue samples). Here, we have studied the polarization properties of different bacterial colonies in order to evaluate the possibility of bacterial detection and discrimination. In this regard, we have taken the backscattering Mueller matrix images of four different bacteria colonies (i.e., Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Rhodococcus erythropolis, and Staphylococcus aureus). Although the images have the potential to distinguish qualitatively different bacterial colonies, we explored more accurate and quantitative parameters criteria for discrimination of bacterial samples; more specifically, we have exploited the Mueller matrix polar decomposition (MMPD),frequency distribution histogram (FDH), and central moment analysis method. The outcomes demonstrated a superior capacity of Mueller matrix imaging, MMPD, and FDH in bacterial colonies identification and discrimination. This approach might pave the way for a reliable, efficient, and cheap way of identification of infectious diseases.

Advances in Optical Detection of Human-Associated Pathogenic Bacteria

“…In polarimetry, the Mueller matrix is a popular tool to characterize the interaction of various states of polarized light with a sample. Mueller matrix polarimetry was used to differentiate bacterial cultures by Badieyan et al, who developed a polarization-based imaging modality for species differentiation; elements of the back-calculated Mueller matrix encoded structural information about colony patterns within the culture and provided imaging contrast to discriminate between E. coli, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Rhodococcus erythropolis, and Staphylococcus aureus (Figure 8) [187]. Here, Sl is the length of the sensor area, L is the length of the sensor arm, d is the distance between the sensor and reference arms, and θ is the opening angle of the Y-divisor for angular Y-junctions, whereas R is the radius of curvature of the Y-divisor for S-bend Y-junctions.…”

Polarimetric Detection of Chemotherapy-Induced Cancer Cell Death

“…For instance, it can be a very handy tool for the identification and discrimination of cancerous cells [23,24]. Other works also employ Mueller matrix imaging for discrimination and classification of microalgae and bacteria [25][26][27]. We suggest that polarimetry could also be useful for the identification of processes that promote changes inside the cell, like cell death.…”

Polarization Measurements and Evaluation Based on Multidimensional Polarization Indices Applied in Analyzing Atmospheric Particulates

“…Extracting information based on the polarization method has been widely used in atmospheric, marine, and biomedicine applications [21,22]. Saeedesadat combined Mueller matrix polar decomposition (MMPD), frequency distribution histogram (FDH), and the central moment analysis method to distinguish qualitatively different bacterial colonies [23]. Li used polarization characterization [24,25] to distinguish different kinds of marine algae.…”