Australasian Biotechnology, Volume 9 Number 3, July/August
1999, pp. 159-166
Applications of Flow Cytometry to Microbiology
of Food and Beverage Industries
Paul Attfield, Thusitha Gunasekera, Andrew Boyd, Dan
Deere+ and Duncan Veal.
Code Number:AU99011
Flow cytometry is a technology that allows analysis of
individual cells within pure and mixed populations. Analytical
rates can be up to several thousands of cells or particles per
second. By combining flow cytometry with a range of fluorescent
physiological and/ or molecular probes, it is possible to detect
and enumerate specific cell types and/ or their activities in
complex systems such as environmental, pathological and food
samples. This article overviews recent developments in application
of flow cytometry to food and beverage microbiology. With ongoing
improvements in both cytometer instrumentation and probes for
analysing microorganisms in different types of samples, it is
evident that this technology promises to make a major contribution
to fundamental and applied aspects of food and beverage
microbiology in the coming years.
Copyright 1999 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.
