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Visualization of Microorganisms in Bioprocesses

  • Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Kengo Kubota
Chapter
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Abstract

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is currently a standard technique for detecting, identifying, and enumerating microorganisms. The method allows for visualization of cell morphology as well as in situ localization of microorganisms at single-cell resolution. Although FISH has been used for more than 20 years, many challenges remain with regard to improving the technique for understanding microbial ecology and physiology. This chapter describes the recent developments in this field, such as improved sensitivity by catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD)-FISH and in situ DNA-hybridization chain reaction (HCR). Highly sensitive methods for detecting mRNA and/or functional genes are also described. Moreover, methods combining isotope probing to reveal microbial metabolic activities are introduced.

Keywords

Microorganisms Ecology Fluorescence Metabolic activity Phylogeny 
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© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringNational Institute of Technology, Matsue CollegeMatsueJapan
  2. 2.Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan

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