Pathogenic Microbiology Commons^™

Increase In Fluorescence Intensity Of 16s Rrna In Situ Hybridization In Natural Samples Treated With Chloramphenicol, Cleber C. Ouverney, Jed A. Fuhrman

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Despite the numerous advantages of fluorescent in situ hybridization for the identification of single prokaryotic cells with 16S rRNA probes, use of the technique with natural samples, especially those from the marine environment, is still problematic. The low percentage of fluorescently labeled cells constitutes the primary problem for in situ hybridization of natural samples, probably due to low cellular rRNA content. This study represents an attempt to improve detection of marine prokaryotes by increasing cellular rRNA content without changing the species composition. Cells from three California coastal sites were treated with chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein synthesis and rRNA degradation, …