Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of microscope illumination on bacterial development

  • Published:
Archiv für Mikrobiologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Microscope illumination can cause retardation of growth, morphological alterations, and death of bacteria on nutrient agar in microscope growth chambers, even if the radiation is limited to the visible range of the spectrum. Various bacteria differ from one another in their sensitivity to microscope illumination. Not only photoinactivation but also a rise in temperature may contribute to these effects, as shown by the melting of benzalacetone in the illuminated field of an aqueous mount at an ambient temperature at least 15 degrees below its M. P. Recommendations are presented for reducing the effects of microscope illumination in developmental studies.

Zusammenfassung

Die Beleuchtung im Mikroskop kann bei Bakterien, welche auf Nährbouillonagar in ihrer Entwicklung beobachtet werden, Wachstumshemmung, morphologische Veränderungen und Abtötung verursachen, auch wenn der Spektralbereich auf das Sichtbare begrenzt ist. Verschiedene Bakterien unterscheiden sich in ihrer Empfindlichkeit. Nicht nur Photoinaktivierung, sondern auch Erwärmung infolge absorbierter Strahlungsenergie kann zu den Folgen beitragen; Benzalaceton in Wasser schmilzt unter Beleuchtung im Mikroskop bei einer Umgebungstemperatur, welche 15°C unter derjenigen des Schmelzpunktes liegt. Maßnahmen zur Verringerung der Beleuchtungseinflüsse werden besprochen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bock, E.: Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Wirkung sichtbaren Lichtes auf Nitrosomonas europaea und Nitrobacter winogradskyi. Arch. Mikrobiol. 51, 18–41 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, O., Clark, J. B.: Fragmentation in Nocardia corallina. J. gen. Microbiol. 45, 525–530 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chichester, C. O., Maxwell, W. A.: The effects of high intensity visible and ultraviolet light on the death of microorganisms. Life Sci. Space Res. 7, 11–18 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Futter, B. V., Richardson, G.: Inactivation of bacterial spores by visible radiations. J. appl. Bact. 30, 347–353 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Garvin, R. T., Julian, G. R., Rogers, S. J.: Dye-sensitized photooxidation of the Escherichia coli ribosome. Science 164, 583–584 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harms, H., Engel, H.: Der Einfluß sichtbaren Lichts auf das Cytochromsystem ruhender Zellen von Micrococcus denitrificans Beijerinck. Arch. Mikrobiol. 52, 224–230 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. P., Jr.: Survival of bacteria. Harmful effects of light, with some comparisons with other adverse physical agents. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 21, 143–156 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertel, E.: Über physiologische Wirkung von Strahlen verschiedener Wellenlänge. Z. allg. Physiol. 5, 95–122 (1905).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, H.: Morphogenesis of bacterial aggregations. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 18, 111–130 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, Frank, M. E.: Temperature limits, genealogical origin, developmental course, and ultimate fate of heat-induced filaments in Escherichia coli microcultures. J. Bact. 85, 1221–1234 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollaender, A.: Effect of long ultraviolet and short visible radiation (3500 to 4900 Å) on Escherichia coli. J. Bact. 46, 531–541 (1943).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubitschek, H. E.: Mutagenesis by near-visible light. Science 155, 1545–1546 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, D. A., Starr, M. P.: Arthrobacter atrocyaneus, n. sp., and its blue pigment. Arch. Mikrobiol. 36, 175–181 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, D. A., Starr, M. P.: Developmental morphology of Corynebacterium poinsettiae. Bact. Proc. 1962, 46.

  • ——: Clonal morphogenesis of Lampropedia hyalina. Arch. Mikrobiol. 52, 360–375 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, R., Schicht, G.: Zur Photosensibilität der Bakterien. Arch. Mikrobiol. 51, 290–306 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Starr, M. P., Kuhn, D. A.: On the origin of V-forms in Arthrobacter atrocyaneus. Arch. Mikrobiol. 42, 289–298 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, R. B., Malina, M. M.: Mutagenesis in Escherichia coli by visible light. Science 156, 1104–1105 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, S. J.: Factors affecting the viability of air-borne bacteria. IV. The inactivation and reactivation of air-borne Serratia marcescens by ultraviolet and visible light. Canad. J. Microbiol. 7, 607–619 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, San Fernando Valley State College, 91324, Northridge, California

    Daisy A. Kuhn & Mortimer P. Starr

  2. Department of Bacteriology, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, USA

    Daisy A. Kuhn & Mortimer P. Starr

Authors
  1. Daisy A. Kuhn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mortimer P. Starr
    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

Kuhn, D.A., Starr, M.P. Effects of microscope illumination on bacterial development. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 74, 292–300 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412356

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412356

Keywords

Search

Navigation