5 replies to this topic

[balmer]

I could really use a fluorescent dye with following two characteristics:
- high specificity against all bacteria species
- no specificity against mammalian cells

Is that pure imagination or does such a dye exist?

[bob1]

It would be very hard to get one that is specific for ALL bacterial species - think about differences in cell wall etc.

[El Crazy Xabi]

You can use FISH (or variants) with universal bacterial probes, but it will hybridize with mitochondria too.

[balmer]

bob1, on 12 September 2012 - 01:50 PM, said:

It would be very hard to get one that is specific for ALL bacterial species - think about differences in cell wall etc.

You are of course right. A couple of dyes to cover, maybe not all bacteria species, but as many as possible could also be interesting. As long as they do not simultaneously stain mammalian cells.

[balmer]

El Crazy Xabi, on 12 September 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

You can use FISH (or variants) with universal bacterial probes, but it will hybridize with mitochondria too.

Thank you. FISH could be an option, but i think it will be much more expensive than a dye?

[El Crazy Xabi]

balmer, on 12 September 2012 - 11:11 PM, said:

El Crazy Xabi, on 12 September 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

You can use FISH (or variants) with universal bacterial probes, but it will hybridize with mitochondria too.

Thank you. FISH could be an option, but i think it will be much more expensive than a dye?

It will, but I really doubt you will get any specific dye. Bacteria (and don't know if you want to include Archaea too) are too heterogeneous for that.

Even clasical bacteria stains will colour your mammalian cells. It would be easier find a specific mamalian dye and counterstain everything else with DAPI for example, but it would probably need antibodies wich is even more expensive.

Do you want to do something specific or just asking to know?