Progess of dyes combinating with DNA in detection of live cells

• 1、Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062

Abstract：Bacteria were traditionally considered viable when they could be cultured, whereas today's viability concept tends to be based on the presence of some form of responsiveness, metabolic activity, the energy status. Microbiological samples pretreatment with nucleic acid dye PMA and EMA that selectively enters cells with compromised cell membranes, whereas an intact membrane presents a barrier for these molecule. Once inside the dead cells, the dye intercalates into the cell's DNA which results in irreversible DNA modification and subsequent inhibition of its amplification. The principle is not limited to bacteria, but has also successfully been applied to fungi, protozoa and viruses, Despite the success of the method, some practical limitations have been identified, especially when applied to environmental samples, This review summarizes current knowledge and presents aspects which are important when designing experiments employing viability dyes.

Keywords： Viable cell detection PMA EMA QPCR