Advanced Approach to Simultaneous Monitoring of Multiple Bacteria in Space

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">A novel microarray-based approach to simultaneous detection, quantitation, and identification of multiple microorganisms found in water and air supplies is presented. The rapid DNA/RNA probe-based approach avoids time consuming cell cultivation procedures by utilizing the inherent amplification property of rRNA combined with highly sensitive proximal CCD detection.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Specifically, optimal DNA probes for simultaneously capturing <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Vibrio proteolyticus</i> were arrayed in a 4 x 4 matrix using a novel microarray printer capable of depositing hundreds of probes within a single well (1cm<sup>2</sup>) of a conventional 96 well microtiter plate. Following hybridization of a 16S rRNA microorganism mixture to the DNA microarray, detection, imaging, quantitation and identification was performed within seconds employing the complimentary PC-based proximal CCD detector/imager.</div>