Automated Dielectrophoretic Characterization of Mycobacterium smegmatis

We report the positive dielectrophoretic (pDEP) characterization of wild-type and ethambutol-treated Mycobacterium smegmatis populations via automated pDEP cell trapping experiments. The automated technique was validated by measurements of carboxylate-modified polystyrene microspheres and Escherichia coli. The characterization of M. smegmatis identifies a key frequency regime where the membrane-specific action of ethambutol leads to a change in the cellular dielectrophoretic response. This work represents the first such characterization of Mycobacteria and highlights the potential for DEP measurements to measure changes in mycobacterial membrane properties associated with chemical treatments or genetic mutation.