AUTHOR=Balmages Ilya , Liepins Janis , Zolins Stivens , Bliznuks Dmitrijs , Broks Renars , Lihacova Ilze , Lihachev Alexey 

TITLE=Tools for classification of growing/non-growing bacterial colonies using laser speckle imaging

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1279667

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1279667

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Prior research has indicated the feasibility of assessing growth—associated activity in bacterial colonies through the application of laser speckle imaging techniques. A subpixel correlation method was employed to identify variations in sequential laser speckle images, thereby facilitating the visualization of specific zones indicative of microbial growth within the colony. Such differentiation between active (growing) and inactive (non-growing) bacterial colonies holds considerable implications for medical applications, like bacterial response to certain drugs or antibiotics. The present study substantiates the capability of laser speckle imaging to categorize bacterial colonies as growing or non-growing, a parameter which nonvisible in colonies when observed under white light illumination.</p>