Application of capillary electrophoresis to monitor populations of Cellulomonas cartae KYM-7 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens KYM-8 in mixed culture.

A bacterial cell mixture of Cellulomonas cartae KYM-7 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens KYM-8 was analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE). Both pherograms showed two discrete peaks. The cells in the peaks were collected, Gram stained, and examined with a microscope. The cells of the two strains were well separated by CGE, and each CGE peak consisted almost entirely of cells of one strain (greater than 98% purity), whereas each CZE peak contained cells of both strains (about 90% purity). In the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(10) to 1.0 X 10(12) cells/mL, the area of CGE peaks was proportional to the amount of cells. The growth of the two strains In mixed culture was, measured by CGE. The CGE quantification data were in good agreement with those obtained using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The CGE analyses were accomplished in 1 h, using a relatively uncomplicated procedure. Thus, CGE exhibited great advantages in accuracy, rapidity, and simplicity.