Hi Mike,

A trick taught to me my a microbiologist (Mark McBride) is to make a 0.7% agarose solution in water (microwave to dissolve), and while it is still hot use a Pasteur pipet to flow a layer onto a microscope slide to cover it.  I usully suspend the slides on wooden applicator sticks in case the agarose runs off, otherwise the solution wicks under the slide.  Once the agarose gels, apply a drop of culture on top, then coverslip it.  The pad of agarose needs to be larger than the coverslip you want to use.  The cells stay immobile, and actually stay alive for a long time.

Sincerely yours,
Heather Owen


Dr. Heather A. Owen
Director, Electron Microscope Laboratory
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Lapham Hall
3209 N. Maryland Avenue
Milwaukee, WI   53211
(414)229-6816

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Tighe" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:11:00 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Immobilize bacteria

Does anybody have a good way to Immobilize bacteria without killing. We would like to do a Live/dead stain and our bugs like to float away!

Thanks!!
Mike