The MycoLight™ series includes kits and standalone bacteria-labeling dyes for multiple experimental purposes. The need for improved identification and understanding of bacterial behavior has increased markedly in recent years, as bacterial resistance and the possible use of the cell wall as an antibacterial target has gained traction in research applications. With comparable spectral profiles to classic choices like SYBR^®, the MycoLight™ dyes do not affect cell health, allowing further characterization of labeled cell populations. MycoLight™ dyes display excellent brightness and specificity, and are compatible with all major instrument platforms.

MycoLight™ kits are available for a range of applications, from bacterial viability assays to modern Gram staining of living bacterial cells. The majority of kits are optimized for use with fluorescence microscopes for improved sensitivity, but MycoLight™ Ratiometric Bacterial Membrane Potential Kit can also be used with a Flow Cytometer, and the MycoLight™ Flow Cytometric Live Bacteria Assay Kit is designed specifically for that instrument.

Fluorescent labeling of live bacteria is often challenging, as some model organisms do not easily express the modified proteins, and even effective dyes are sometimes toxic or heavily inhibit bacterial growth. The standalone MycoLight&™ dyes JJ94, JJ98 and JJ99 are well tolerated by bacteria, allowing normal proliferation and further characterization. All 3 dyes have low intrinsic fluorescence, and display a striking increase in fluorescence intensity only upon binding with DNA. MycoLight™ Red JJ94, with its far-red fluorescence, is particularly suited for multicolor detection with other commonly used green probes. JJ98 and JJ99 will label both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, while JJ94 will stain Gram positive bacterial cells.