Abstract:
Microbial communities in their fully hydrated state can be imaged in space and time (4-dimensionally) by laser scanning microscopy using 1-photon or 2-photon excitation. In this chapter we provide guidance on how to examine microorganisms associated with the degradation of liquid, viscous and solid hydrocarbons. The details of mounting samples for upright and inverted microscopes as well as options for fluorescence staining of bacteria and hydrocarbons are presented. Then suggestions are made for recording images and subsequent digital image analysis. Finally practical aspects are discussed such as the material and software needed, the time required and a guide for trouble shooting.
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Acknowledgments
Image courtesy: A. Macedo and W.-R. Abraham (Fig. 1b ), S. Furuno and L. Wick (Fig. 1c ). Support of the Canada-Germany collaboration by Environment Canada and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ is highly appreciated. Excellent technical support was provided over many years by Ute Kuhlicke and George Swerhone.
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Neu, T.R., Lawrence, J.R. (2010). Examination of Microbial Communities on Hydrocarbons by Means of Laser Scanning Microscopy. In: Timmis, K.N. (eds) Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77587-4_317
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77587-4_317
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