A new in vivo fluorimetric technique to measure growth of adhering phototrophic microorganisms

Article Abstract:

A noninvasive fluorimetric technique is useful for measuring the growth of adhering benthic phototrophic microorganisms. The technique involves the detection of the in vivo fluorescence of chlorophylls, chlorophyll a and bacteriochlorophyll a. The modulated excitation light of blue-light-emitting diodes and a photodiode are used as the fluorescence detector. The increases in signals with time give an indication of the growth of bacteria and permit the measurement of growth even at low densities.

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True chemotaxis in oxygen gradients of the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thiovulum majus

Article Abstract:

Researchers show that the sulfide-oxidizing bacterium Thiovulum majus can orient itself in oxygen gradients so it can stay within the oxygen concentration that is optimal for its growth. This contradicts the belief that prokaryotes are too small to orient themselves in this way.

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Fiber-optic fluorometer for microscale mapping of photosynthetic pigments in microbial communities

Article Abstract:

Researchers describe a fiber-optic fluorometer that has four different excitation and emission wavelengths for measuring phycobiliproteins, chlorophylls, and bacteriochlorophylls in sediments and biofilms. The device can be used for other applications also.

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