Simultaneous determination of gene expression and bacterial identity in single cells in defined mixtures of pure cultures

Abstract

A protocol was developed to achieve the simultaneous determination of gene expression and bacterial identity at the level of single cells; a chromogenic β-galactosidase activity assay was combined with in situ hybridization of fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes to rRNA. The method allows monitoring of gene expression and quantification of β- galactosidase activity in single cells.