Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research
  • Published:

Separation and Isolation of Viable Bacteria by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Bio/Technology volume 11, pages 1278–1282 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

Mixtures of bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 13813), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 6303), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), were resolved into discrete electrophoretic bands using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Bacteria remained viable (>90%) during the electrophoretic process. Analysis of peak separation indicates organisms were quantitatively resolved and recovered at greater than 98% purity. E. faecalis was resolved into two discrete fractions with different chain assemblages that may reflect different developmental stages. These findings suggest that CZE can afford the microbiologist a new tool for studying the composition and distribution of microorganisms in mixed populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shapiro, H.M. 1990. Flow cytometry in laboratory microbiology: New directions. ASM News 56: 584–588.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Shapiro, J.A. 1991. Multicellular behavior of bacteria. ASM News 57: 247–253.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Johnstone, K.I. 1969. The isolation and cultivation of single organisms. In: Methods in Microbiology, Vol 1. Norris, J. R. and Ribbons, D. W. (Eds.). Academic Press, Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Veldkamp, H. 1970. Enrichment of prokaryotic organisms. In: Methods in Microbiology, Vol 3A. Norris, J. R. and Ribbons, D. W. (Eds.). Academic Press, Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Herbert, R.A. 1990. Methods for Enumerating Microorganisms. In: Methods in Microbiology, Vol 22. Grigorva, R. and Norris, J. R. (Eds.). Academic Press, Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Richmond, D.V. and Fisher, D.J. 1973. The electrophoretic mobility of microorganisms. Advances in Microbial Physiology 9: 1–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Uhlenbruck, G., Fröml, A., Lütticken, R. and Hannig, K. 1988. Cell electrophoresis of Group B streptococci before and after neuraminidase treatment. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. A 270: 28–34.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bauer, J. 1987. Electrophoretic separation of cells. J. Chromatogr. Biomed. Appl. 418: 359–383.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lyklema, J. 1985. Interfacial electrochemistry of surfaces. In: Surface and Interfacial Aspects of Biomedical Polymers. Andrade, J. D. (Ed.). Plenum Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lemp, J.F., Ausbury, E.D. and Ridenour, E.O. 1971. Electrophoresis of colloidal biological particles. Biotechnol. and Bioeng. 8: 17–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bayer, M.E. and Sloyer, Jr. J.L. 1990. The electrophoretic mobility of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. J. General Microbio. 136: 867–874.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Grossman, P.D., Colburn, J.C. and Lauer, H.H. 1989. The electrophoretic mobility of peptides in free-solution capillary electrophoresis. Anal. Biochem. 179: 28–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Guttman, A., Cohen, A.S., Heiger, D.N. and Karger, B.L. 1990. Ultrahigh resolution of oligonucleotides by polyacrylamide gel high-performance capillary electrophoresis. Anal. Chem. 62: 137–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hjertén, S., Elenbring, K., Kilar, F., Liao, J.L., Chen, A.J.C., Siebert, C.J. and Zhu, M.D. 1987. Carrier-free zone electrophoresis, displacement electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in a high performance electrophoresis apparatus. J. Chromatogr. 403: 47–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Jones, H.K. and Ballou, N.E. 1990. Separation of chemically different particles by capillary electrophoresis. Anal. Chem. 62: 2484–2490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lauer, H.H. and McManigill, D. 1986. Capillary zone electrophoresis of proteins in fused silica tubing. Anal. Chem. 58: 166–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McCormick, R.M. 1991. Characterization of silica sols using capillary zone electrophoresis. J. Liq. Chromatog. 14: 939–952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Van Orman, B.B. and McIntyre, G.L. 1989. Analytical separation of polystyrene microspheres by means of capillary electrophoresis. J. Microcolumn Separations 1: 289–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zagursky, R.J. and McCormick, R.M. 1990. DNA sequencing separations in capillary gels. Biotechniques 9: 74–79.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Olivera, B.M., Baine, P. and Davidson, N. 1964. Electrophoresis of nucleic acids. Biopolymers 2: 245–257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Higgins, M.L., Pooley, H.M. and Shockman, G.D. 1971. Reinitiation of Cell wall growth after threonine starvation of Streptococcus faecalis. J. Bacteriology 105: 1175–1183.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McCormick, R.M. 1988. Capillary electrophoretic separation of peptides and proteins using low pH buffers in modified silica capillaries. Anal. Chem. 60: 2322–2328.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Richard C. Ebersole & Randy M. McCormick

    Present address: Dionex Corporation, 1228 Titan Way, Sunnyvale, CA, 94088

  2. Richard C. Ebersole: Corresponding author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Central Research and Development, Microbiology & Analytical Divisions, Experimental Station, P.O. Box 80173, Wilmington, DE, 19880-0173

    Richard C. Ebersole & Randy M. McCormick

Authors
  1. Richard C. Ebersole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Randy M. McCormick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ebersole, R., McCormick, R. Separation and Isolation of Viable Bacteria by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis. Nat Biotechnol 11, 1278–1282 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1193-1278

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1193-1278

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing