ENUMERATION OF CARNOBACTERIUM-DIVERGENS V41, CARNOBACTERIUM-PISCICOLAV1 AND LACTOBACILLUS-BREVIS LB62 BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION FLOW-CYTOMETRY

The specific detection and enumeration of Lactobacillus brevis LB62, C arnobacterium divergens V14 and Carnobacterium piscicola VI were studi ed by in situ hybridization-flow cytometry. The method was performed o n the exponential growth phase with three probes targeting 16S rRNA la belled with fluorescein isothicyanate (FITC): EUB338 probe universal f or Eubacteria, Lb probe specific for Lact. brevis and Cb probe specifi c for the genus Carnobacterium. EUB338 was used to determine the perme abilization and hybridization conditions for the cells. The Lb probe g ave no hybridization signal whereas the Cb probe allowed the detection and quantification by flow cytometry at 520 nm of the two Carnobacter ium strains in pure culture or in mixtures with Listeria innocua F.