įlow cytometry rapidly measures the specific characteristics of a large number of individual cells.Platelet survival, tracking, and function in vivo ĭetection of maternal and fetal anti-HPA-1a antibodies.Identification of leukocyte contamination in platelet concentrates Quality control of platelet concentrates VASP phosphorylation and other signal transduction molecules Measurement of Platelet Activation (Circulating Activated Platelets, Platelet Hyperreactivity, or Platelet Hyporeactivity)Īctivation-dependent monoclonal antibodies All these applications of flow cytometry to the study of platelets are discussed in this chapter. Flow cytometry can be used to (a) measure the activation state of circulating platelets and their reactivity (by activation-dependent changes in platelet surface antigens, leukocyte-platelet aggregation, procoagulant platelet-derived microparticles, and phosphorylation of intracellular proteins) (b) diagnose specific disorders (Bernard-Soulier syndrome, Glanzmann thrombasthenia, storage pool disease, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia ) (c) monitor antiplatelet agents (d) monitor thrombopoiesis (by the number of young, “reticulated” platelets) (e) perform assays relevant to blood banking (quality control of platelet concentrates, identification of leukocyte contamination in platelet concentrates, immunophenotyping of platelet HPA-1a, detection of maternal and fetal anti-HPA-1a antibodies, and platelet cross-matching) (f) measure platelet-associated IgG (g) measure the platelet count and (h) perform other research assays (measurement of platelet survival and function in vivo, F-actin content, calcium flux, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, platelet recruitment, and bacteria-platelet interactions). The recent advent of smaller, less expensive yet versatile FCM instruments is expected to facilitate even greater use of FCM in food microbiology in applications, including monitoring of food fermentations, physiological characterization of microbes exposed to various food processing-related stressors, and rapid detection of pathogens in foods.įlow cytometry, a remarkably versatile tool for the study of platelet function, encompasses multiple assays for multiple purposes ( Table 29-1). Although FCM was developed originally for analysis of relatively large mammalian cells, it is finding increased use by microbiologists, including food microbiologists.
Information about cell number, size, macromolecular content, and genetic identity can be determined through use of various labels, stains, and probes.
FCM allows analysis of complex populations according to user-defined cell characteristics, with typical analysis rates approaching 10 000 cells s −1. Brehm-Stecher, in Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology (Second Edition), 2014 Abstractįlow cytometry (FCM) is an instrumental tool for rapid detection and characterization of microbial cells based on their light scatter and fluorescence properties.