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USE OF AUTORADIOGRAPHY TO ASSESS VIABILITY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN WATER
Citation:
Shahamat, M., U. Mai, C. Paszko-Kolvan, M. Kessel, AND R. Colwell. USE OF AUTORADIOGRAPHY TO ASSESS VIABILITY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN WATER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-93/224.
Description:
Autoradiographic methods have been developed to detect metabolic activity of viable but nonculturable cells of Helicobacter pylori in water. our strains of H. pylori were studied by using microcosms containing suspensions of aged cultures in water. he suspensions of aged, nonculturable cells of H. pylori were incubated with [3h]thymidine for 24 to 72 h. after which the cell suspensions were exposed to Kodak NTB2 emulsion for 3 to 28 days. ach sample was processed with three separate controls to rule out false-positive reactions. he organism remains viable and culturable under these conditions for up to 48 h and in some cases, 20 to 30 days depending on physical conditions of the environment. e found that temperature was a significant P < 0.01 environmental factor associated with the viability of H. pylori cells in water. utoradiographs of tritium-labeled cells of H. pylori revealed aggregations of silver grains associated with uptake by H. pylori of radio-labelled substrate. Findings based on the autoradiographic approach give strong evidence supporting the hypothesis that there is a waterborne route of infection for H. pylori. he possibility that H. pylori may persist in water in a metabolically active state but not actively growing and dividing is intriguing and relevant to public health concerns.