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Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols pp 49–69Cite as

Fluorescence Microscopy for Microbiology

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Abstract

Fluorescence microscopy allows selective recognition of a particular component from biomolecular complex structures for the investigation of biological processes. It is frequently used to image specific microbial features. The rapid development of new fluorescent probes that can be easily adapted for a wide array of biological applications, coupled to the extraordinary technical improvements in microscope systems and software, strongly supports the sustained development and exploitation of fluorescence microscopy as a powerful research tool.

Fluorescence microscopy in microbiology can investigate the localization and levels of molecules and can provide information about their distribution, dynamics, and interactions, both in living and fixed samples. The preparation of high-quality samples for microscopic observation is the starting point for obtaining good resolution and optimum imaging results. This chapter attempts to provide basic methods for the application of conventional fluorescence and immunofluorescence microscopy for microbiology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

    Gabriella Molinari

Authors
  1. Gabriella Molinari
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Correspondence to Gabriella Molinari .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom

    Terry J. McGenity

  2. Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany

    Kenneth N. Timmis

  3. Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC), Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Balbina Nogales

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Molinari, G. (2015). Fluorescence Microscopy for Microbiology. In: McGenity, T., Timmis, K., Nogales, B. (eds) Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/8623_2015_108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/8623_2015_108

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-49132-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-49134-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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