FIG. 5.

Comparison of fluorescence intensities of Cy3-labeled oligonucleotide probes hybridized with or without SDS in the hybridization buffer to differently fixed E. coli cells. Fluorescence intensity is expressed as a percentage of that obtained with standard beads. Dark shaded bars, ethanol fixation, storage in an ethanol-1× PBS mixture, and standard hybridization with 0.01% SDS. Solid bars, PFA fixation, storage in an ethanol-1× PBS mixture, and standard hybridization with 0.01% SDS. Open bars, PFA fixation, storage in an ethanol-1× PBS mixture, and hybridization without SDS. Light shaded bars, PFA fixation, storage in 1× PBS, and standard hybridization with 0.01% SDS.