Simultaneous immunofluorescent detection of coentrapped cells in gel beads

An immunofluorescent method involving double color labeling and confocal mi croscopy was reported to specifically detect lactic acid bacteria and probi otic cells coimmobilized in gels beads. The method described is rapid (4 h) and sensitive and may be useful for studying cell dynamics during mixed-cu lture starter production using immobilized cells in gel beads. Microscopic observations were perfectly correlated to cell counts obtained using a sand wich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.