Dead or alive: molecular assessment of microbial viability.

摘要: Nucleic acid-based analytical methods, ranging from species-targeted PCRs to metagenomics, have greatly expanded our understanding of microbiological diversity in natural samples. However, these methods provide only limited information on the activities and physiological states microorganisms Even most fundamental state, viability, cannot be assessed cross-sectionally by standard DNA-targeted such as PCR. New PCR-based strategies, collectively called molecular viability analyses, been developed that differentiate nucleic acids associated with viable cells those inactivated cells. In order maximize utility correctly interpret results, it is necessary consider life death microbial world. This article reviews analysis context discusses future opportunities for strategies genetic, metagenomic, single-cell microbiology.