Detection of Viable Organisms Using Molecular Techniques
from Paul A. Rochelle, Anne K. Camper, Andreas Nocker and Mark Burr in Environmental Microbiology: Current Technology and Water Applications
The ultimate measure of microbial viability and biological activity is growth in some form of culture system. Unfortunately, due to many limitations, growth is usually not the most sensitive or rapid detection method. Many molecular-based tools are available for assessing viability and functional gene expression, and have applications for specific microbes in environmental samples. Methods include fluorescent nucleic acid binding dyes, enzymatic conversion of substrates to fluorescent compounds (often in conjunction with nucleic acid-based methods), various techniques based on amplification and detection of nucleic acids, nucleic acid amplification linked to biosensors and microarray detection platforms, detection and characterization of proteins, and molecular detection coupled with culturing.
Further reading:
The ultimate measure of microbial viability and biological activity is growth in some form of culture system. Unfortunately, due to many limitations, growth is usually not the most sensitive or rapid detection method. Many molecular-based tools are available for assessing viability and functional gene expression, and have applications for specific microbes in environmental samples. Methods include fluorescent nucleic acid binding dyes, enzymatic conversion of substrates to fluorescent compounds (often in conjunction with nucleic acid-based methods), various techniques based on amplification and detection of nucleic acids, nucleic acid amplification linked to biosensors and microarray detection platforms, detection and characterization of proteins, and molecular detection coupled with culturing.
Further reading:
Detection of Microbes in Water
Category: Technology | Environmental Microbiology
from Keya Sen in Environmental Microbiology: Current Technology and Water Applications
Molecular techniques based on genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics are rapidly growing as complete microbial genome sequences are becoming available, and advances are made in sequencing technology, analytical biochemistry, microfluidics and data analysis. While the clinical and food industries are increasingly adapting these techniques, there appear to be major challenges in detecting health-related microbes in source and treated drinking waters. This is due in part to the low density of pathogens in water, necessitating significant processing of large volume samples. From the vast panorama of available molecular techniques, some are finding a place in the water industry: Quantitative PCR, protein detection and immunological approaches, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), microarrays.
Further reading:
Molecular techniques based on genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics are rapidly growing as complete microbial genome sequences are becoming available, and advances are made in sequencing technology, analytical biochemistry, microfluidics and data analysis. While the clinical and food industries are increasingly adapting these techniques, there appear to be major challenges in detecting health-related microbes in source and treated drinking waters. This is due in part to the low density of pathogens in water, necessitating significant processing of large volume samples. From the vast panorama of available molecular techniques, some are finding a place in the water industry: Quantitative PCR, protein detection and immunological approaches, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), microarrays.
Further reading: