Dear Prasad,

I can remember having this difficulty many years ago.  If my memory 
serves me (which it probably doesn't!) I had to be careful about the 
nutrient agar I used for the Serratia.  Raper (1940) used " buffered 
carrot-peptone agar" to bring out the color.  I eventually got it to 
work too (1952), but I don't remember how I did it and I never published 
the method I used.  I certainly don't remember peeling carrots!

It can be done.   Good luck,     John


prasad ls wrote:
> Dear Dicty Colleagues,
> 
> I am trying to track the cell fate of Dicty cells with Serratia 
> marcescens, but found that the pigment was not retained in the amoeba or 
> slugs. The bacteria produced intense red color when plated. I was just 
> wondering if any of you have used Serratia in the recent past and have 
> been successful in getting red colored slugs. I would appreciate it, if 
> any of you could tell me if there are any specific strains or subtypes 
> of Serratia that I need to use. Eagerly awaiting your comments.
> 
> 
> Regards
> Prasad
> 
> Developmental Genetics Laboratory
> Department of Biotechnology
> Indian Institute of Technology-Madras
> Chennai,India.
> <http://sigads.rediff.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.ads/www.rediffmail.com/signatureline.htm@Middle?>
> 

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