Flow Cytometry and Microbiology
Autofluorescence of cyanobacteria.
Jaume Comas-Riu
Servei Cientifico-Tecnics
University of Barcelona
c/ Lluis Sole I Sabaris, 1-3
08028 Barcelona, Spain
email: jaume@giga.sct.ub.es
Florencio Carretero
Izasa, S.A.
Arago, 90.
08015 Barcelona, Spain
email: fcarretero@spain.ilww.com
Data Examples
The autofluorescence of a mixture of two cyanobacteria was analyzed using the Coulter EPICS ELITE flow
cytometer. The mixture included long filaments of Nostoc and Anabaena. Fluorescence resulting from excitation
with the 488 nm laser (15 mW) was collected using a 575 nm BP filter (PMT3) and a 675 nm BP filter (PMT4).
The 575 nm fluorescence was associated with carothenoid pigments while the 675 nm fluorescence was due to
chlorophyll. Using autofluorescence, the two populations in the mixture were distinguished (Figure 1) and
sorted (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
Figure 1. Using autofluorescence, the two populations of Cyanobacteria could be distinguished.
Figure 2. Nostoc sorted from the cyanobacteria mixture.
Figure 3. Anabaena sorted from the cyanobacteria mixture.
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