Evaluation of the relationship between the Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay and the presence of Bacillus anthracis spores and vegetative cells

Shawn G. Gibbs, Harlan Sayles, Erica M. Colbert, Angela Hewlett, Oleg Chaika, Philip W. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay was utilized in laboratory evaluations to determine the presence and concentration of vegetative and spore forms of Bacillus anthracis Sterne 34F2. Methods: Seventeen surfaces from the healthcare environment were selected for evaluation. Surfaces were inoculated with 50 μL of organism suspensions at three concentrations of 104, 106, 108 colony forming units per surface (CFU/surface) of B. anthracis. Culture-based methods and ATP based methods were utilized to determine concentrations. Results: When all concentrations were evaluated together, a positive correlation between log-adjusted CFU and Relative Light Units (RLU) for endospores and vegetative cells was established. When concentrations were evaluated separately, a significant correlation was not demonstrated. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a positive correlation for ATP and culture-based methods for the vegetative cells of B. anthracis. When evaluating the endospores and combining both metabolic states, the ATP measurements and CFU recovered did not correspond to the initial concentrations on the evaluated surfaces. The results of our study show that the low ATP signal which does not correlate well to the CFU results would not make the ATP measuring devises effective in confirming contamination residual from a bioterrorist event.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5708-5719
Number of pages12
JournalInternational journal of environmental research and public health
Volume11
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - May 28 2014

Keywords

  • ATP measurement
  • Bacillus anthracis
  • Cleaning confirmation
  • Rapid detection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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