Biomedical Implications of Robust Biomeasurement of Transient Modifications in Cells by Flow Cytometry

Despite the fact that flow cytometry has been a proven biomedical technology [e.g. Ref. 1], its applications in understanding the novel and frontier aspects of human infections and infectious agents continue to emerge. Here we present the challenges, experience and accomplishments in the transient measurements of cells by flow cytometry and cell separation by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). In contrast to the conventional method of characterization of novel or natural human pathogens, gene sequencing and neighbor joining tree have been considered more robust. We have used these approaches involving 16s rRNA gene sequencing of human pathogens (sequences with accession numbers EF419181, EF419183 & EF419182 deposited in the GenBank, USA) and neighbor joining tree to identify and characterize human pathogens (strains deposited in the publicly accessible international culture collections namely NCIMB, Scotland & NCCB, Netherlands). We found that combining multiparametric flow cytometry and FACS unveiled key information on the stress response of human pathogens. With the use of flow cytometry, we report for the first time, the phenomenon of DNAdh in Acinetobacter baylyi, an important nosocomial pathogen in humans. We forecast that DNAdh offers multilayer defense for human pathogens under stress. Furthermore, our strategies offer platform for disclosing genetic pathway(s) of dormancy and DNAdh, for the possible design of new generation of drugs and antimicrobials.