Article

The chemical-in-plug bacterial chemotaxis assay is prone to false positive responses

BMC Research Notes 01/2010; DOI:http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=17560500&date=2010&volume=3&issue=1&spage=77
Source: DOAJ

ABSTRACT Abstract

Background

Chemical-in-plug assays are commonly used to study bacterial chemotaxis, sometimes in the absence of stringent controls.

Results

We report that non-chemotactic and non-motile mutants in two distinct bacterial species ( Shewanella oneidensis and Helicobacter pylori ) show apparent zones of accumulation or clearing around test plugs containing potential attractants or repellents, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the chemical-in-plug assay should be used with caution, that non-motile or non-chemotactic mutants should be employed as controls, and that results should be confirmed with other types of assays.

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Keywords

apparent zones
 
chemical-in-plug assay
 
distinct bacterial species
 
Helicobacter pylori
 
non-chemotactic
 
non-chemotactic mutants
 
potential attractants
 
Shewanella oneidensis
 
stringent controls
 
study bacterial chemotaxis