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Estimation ofEscherichia coli mortality in seawater by the decrease in3H-label and electron transport system activity

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The mortality ofEscherichia coli in seawater was assessed by viable counts, electron transport system activity, and cellular3H-labelling. Filtration was used to assess the grazing mortality. Cellular radiolabelling and electron transport system activity were useful methods for assessingE. coli survival in seawater. The decrease in the3H-label as a method to assess bacterial mortality was validated by using viable counts and metabolic activity assays. The particulate fraction that passed 2 μm but was retained on 0.2 μm pore-size filters was the primary reason forE. coli mortality in seawater.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Microbiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Martinez, J. Garcia-Lara & J. Vives-Rego

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  1. J. Martinez
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  2. J. Garcia-Lara
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  3. J. Vives-Rego
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Martinez, J., Garcia-Lara, J. & Vives-Rego, J. Estimation ofEscherichia coli mortality in seawater by the decrease in3H-label and electron transport system activity. Microb Ecol 17, 219–225 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02012835

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