Angle-resolved light scattering of individual rod-shaped bacteria based on Fourier transform light scattering

Sci Rep. 2014 May 28:4:5090. doi: 10.1038/srep05090.

Abstract

Two-dimensional angle-resolved light scattering maps of individual rod-shaped bacteria are measured at the single-cell level. Using quantitative phase imaging and Fourier transform light scattering techniques, the light scattering patterns of individual bacteria in four rod-shaped species (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus casei, Synechococcus elongatus, and Escherichia coli) are measured with unprecedented sensitivity in a broad angular range from -70° to 70°. The measured light scattering patterns are analyzed along the two principal axes of rod-shaped bacteria in order to systematically investigate the species-specific characteristics of anisotropic light scattering. In addition, the cellular dry mass of individual bacteria is calculated and used to demonstrate that the cell-to-cell variations in light scattering within bacterial species is related to the cellular dry mass and growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Bacillus subtilis / chemistry*
  • Bacillus subtilis / classification
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / classification
  • Lacticaseibacillus casei / chemistry*
  • Lacticaseibacillus casei / classification
  • Light
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Species Specificity
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Synechococcus / chemistry*
  • Synechococcus / classification