Preliminary Evaluation of Mixed Dyes for Fingerprinting Non-Fluorescent Bacteria

Abstract

A rapid scanning fluorometer was used to obtain fluorescence spectral data characteristic of bacteria [Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli] which do not readily produce fluorescent pigments. The data is generated in the form of an array of fluorescence intensity as a function of multiple excitation and emission wavelengths. Fluorescence spectral properties are introduced into the bacterial specimen using multiple dye mixtures for staining. The characteristic fluorescent fingerprints are believed to occur by preferential adsorption and reaction of bacterial cellular components with the individual dyes of the mixture. The procedure was rapid and reproducible for the bacteria examined.