SEPARATION AND ISOLATION OF VIABLE BACTERIA BY CAPILLARY ZONE ELECTROPHORESIS

Mixtures of bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Streptococcu s pyogenes (ATCC 19615), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 13813), Strept ococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 6303), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) , were resolved into discrete electrophoretic bands using capillary zo ne electrophoresis (CZE). Bacteria remained viable (> 90%) during the electrophoretic process. Analysis of peak separation indicates organis ms were quantitatively resolved and recovered at greater than 98% puri ty. E. faecalis was resolved into two discrete fractions with differen t chain assemblages that may reflect different developmental stages. T hese findings suggest that CZE can afford the microbiologist a new too l for studying the composition and distribution of microorganisms in m ixed populations.