Application of flow cytometry to differentiating Exophiala dermatitidis, E. moniliae and E. jeanselmei from each other.

We applied a flow cytometry apparatus (FCM) to differentiating Exophiala dermatitidis, E. moniliae and E. jeanselmei from each other. The wavelength of the argon laser emitted from the FCM was 488 nm and the aperture of nozzle from which the stream of fluid containing single cells was blown out was 100 micron. By irradiating the stream with laser by either the forward light scatter (FLS) or by the perpendicular light scatter (PLS), we were able to get two pieces of informations. Histograms displayed by the FLS indicate the cell size, while dot displays by the PLS reflect the cell structure. As a result, E. dermatitidis was clearly differentiated from either E. moniliae or E. jeanselmei by their histograms by FLS. In addition, dot displays by the PLS differentiated E. moniliae from E. jeanselmei. In conclusion, flow cytometry is available for differentiating E. dermatitidis, E. moniliae and E. jeanselmei from each other.