A comparison of TO-PRO-1 iodide and 5-CFDA-AM staining methods for assessing viability of planktonic algae with epifluorescence microscopy

作者：Gorokhova Elena^*; Mattsson Lisa; Sundstrom Annica M

来源：Journal of Microbiological Methods, 2012, 89(3): 216-221.

DOI：10.1016/j.mimet.2012.03.005

• Algal cell viability
• Carboxylluorescein diacetate acetoxymethyl ester
• 5-CFDA-AM
• LIVE/DEAD staining
• Microplate growth assay
• TO-PRO-1 iodide

Two fluorescent dyes, TO-PRO-1 iodide and 5-CFDA-AM, were evaluated for LIVE/DEAD assessment of unicellular marine algae Brachiomonas submarina and Tetraselmis suecica. Epifluorescence microscopy was used to estimate cell viability in predetermined mixtures of viable and non-viable algal cells and validated using microplate growth assay as reference measurements. On average, 5-CFDA-AM underestimated live cell abundance by similar to 25% compared with viability estimated by the growth assay, whereas TO-PRO-1 iodide provided accurate viability estimates. Furthermore, viability estimates based on staining with TO-PRO-1 iodide were not affected by a storage period of up to one month in -80 degrees C, making the assay a good candidate for routine assessment of phytoplankton populations in field and laboratory studies.

• 出版日期2012-6