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Illuminating Bacterial Contamination in Water Sources: The Power of Fluorescence-Based Methods

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Abstract

Bacterial contamination of water sources is a significant public health concern, and therefore, it is important to have accurate and efficient methods for monitoring bacterial concentration in water samples. Fluorescence-based methods, such as SYTO 9 and PI staining, have emerged as a promising approach for real-time bacterial quantification. In this review, we discuss the advantages of fluorescence-based methods over other bacterial quantification methods, including the plate count method and the most probable number (MPN) method. We also examine the utility of fluorescence arrays and linear regression models in improving the accuracy and reliability of fluorescence-based methods. Overall, fluorescence-based methods offer a faster, more sensitive, and more specific option for real-time bacterial quantification in water samples.

Highlights

Fluorescence-based methods, such as SYTO 9 and PI staining, offer a faster, more sensitive, and more specific option for real-time bacterial quantification in water samples.

The use of fluorescence-based methods can differentiate between live and dead bacterial cells, and can detect bacteria in viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, which is important for monitoring bacterial contamination in water sources.

Fluorescence-based methods are highly sensitive and can detect bacterial cells even in low concentrations. This sensitivity is important for monitoring bacterial contamination in water sources and ensuring the safety of drinking water.

The use of fluorescence arrays and linear regression models can improve the accuracy and reliability of fluorescence-based methods.

Overall, the advantages of fluorescence-based methods make them a superior option for real-time bacterial quantification in water samples and have the potential to play a critical role in ensuring the safety of water sources for human consumption and environmental protection.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Mehsana, for providing library facilities and support for research work.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Humanity and Sciences, School of engineering, Indrashil university, Kadi, Mehsana, 382740, Gujarat, India

    Krunal Modi & Namrata Bajaj

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ganpat University, Kherva, Mehsana, 384012, Gujarat, India

    Kinjal Modi, Keyur Bhatt, Nihal Patel & Jaymin Parikh

  3. Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, Lisboa, 1049-001, Portugal

    Brij Mohan

  4. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Indrashil University, Mehsana, 382740, Gujarat, India

    Amish Vyas

  5. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ganpat University, Kherva, Mehsana, 384012, Gujarat, India

    Flory Kothari

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Contributions

Kinjal Modi: Writing - Original Draft, Formal Analysis Krunal Modi: Supervision, Methodology, Conceptualization Nihal Patel: Visualization Jaymin Parikh- Investigation Keyur Bhatt: Validation, Supervision Brij Mohan: Software Amish Vyas: Software Namrata Bajaj: Writing - Review and Editing Flory Kothari: Investigation.

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Correspondence to Krunal Modi or Keyur Bhatt.

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Modi, K., Modi, K., Bhatt, K. et al. Illuminating Bacterial Contamination in Water Sources: The Power of Fluorescence-Based Methods. J Fluoresc 34, 139–147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03297-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03297-x

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