Flow cytometric monitoring of Rhodococcus erythropolis and Ochrobactrum anthropi in a mixed culture

The GRAM-positive bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis K2-3 and the GRAM-negative Ochrobactrum anthropi K2-14 are capable of synergistically degrading 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB). The two strains execute this task in a symbiotic manner, but the nature of the interactions involved in the degradation is only partially understood as yet. An essential first step in elucidating the interaction is to be able to monitor the two strains separately, at the cellular level, within mixed populations. Therefore a method exploiting fluorescently labelled lectin probes was developed. Since Concanavalin A (Con A) binds specifically to R. erythropolis K2-3, it was selected and linked to the fluorescent dye Bodipy 630/650, which has an excitation maximum in the red part of the visible light spectrum. Forward light scatter (FSC) and DNA fluorescence from both strains were also measured to obtain simultaneous information about their physiological states. The three parameters were conveniently monitored by dual and triple excitation flow cytometry in conjunction with double fluorescent staining techniques. In addition, the strains were identified using an epifluorescence microscope. These techniques were found powerful tools for the population analysis of this mixed bacterial system.