Abstract
To avoid the problems involved in culturing, the intestinal microflora has been studied using digital image analysed microscopy. Several such applications have been developed in Groningen, for morphometry, fluorometry, and combined use of both. The response of the intestinal flora to antibiotics and probiotics could be determined readily with these methods, along with measurements of the systemic immune response to the intestinal microflora. More recently 16S-rRNA targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been used in combination with image analysis, to allow identification of individual cells. Assessment of physiological activity of bacteria is now also possible through mRNA targeted FISH.
