Simple Method for Estimating Slide Culture Survival

Abstract

described a slide culture method requiring a special metal annulus on a slide for measuring directly the percentage of survival of bacteria. Sufficient agar was added so that a small air chamber remained over the inoculum when a round coverslip was placed on top. Since annuli

Survival strategies of bacteria in the natural environment.

“…Cell mass increases under such conditions, resulting in lengthwise cell growth without division (40). Bretz (14), employing slide cultures to study survival of bacterial cells, reported that some cells, which he called moribund, were observed only to swell during the same period required for other cells to divide. The moribund cells eventually formed microcolonies and were therefore considered "viable.…”