Application of Mie theory and cubic splines to the representation of light scattering patterns from bacteria in the logarithmic growth phase.

The angular dependence of light scattered by spherical bacteria cannot be explained accurately by treating them as homogeneous spheres with a simple size distribution determined by electron microscopy. Calculations indicated that structural features of the bacterial cell, such as its wall, were responsible, at least in part, for the poor agreement. Thus, there is no simple theoretical model available for light scattering by bacteria. Empirical methods have, therefore, to be used to describe the curves, e.g. for antibiotic sensitivity tests. Cubic splines provide a suitable empirical method.