Polarized light scattering: a biophysical method for studying bacterial cells

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1995 Oct;42(10):1038-43. doi: 10.1109/10.464379.

Abstract

We outline a method which uses differentially polarized light scattering to study the properties of bacterial cell suspensions, i.e., spores of Bacillus Subtilis. The identification of bacterial cells of different strains, with and without plasmid insertion, was performed by means of differential polarization light scattering (DPLS). The samples displayed distinct angular behaviors for the S14 and S34 normalized scattering parameters of the Mueller matrix depending on the strain and on a plasmid insertion in the chromosomal unit. These experiments, performed blindly, point out the possibility of achieving real time identification of micro-organisms by DPLS spectrometry.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis
  • Bacteriological Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Calibration
  • Equipment Design
  • Light
  • Microspheres
  • Plasmids
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spores, Bacterial