A cell viability assay to determine the cytotoxic effects of water contaminated by microbes

Authors

  • Suranie Prinsloo 1. Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa 2. Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, NorthWest University, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
  • Rialet Pieters Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
  • Carlos C. Bezuidenhout Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, NorthWest University, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/20120069

Keywords:

MTT assay, viability assay, mammalian tissue culture, duodenum cell line, drinking water quality

Abstract

Many South Africans do not have access to safe drinking water, so they have no alternative but to use water from contaminated sources that poses a health hazard. This poor state of affairs appears to be deteriorating. In order to distinguish safe from unsafe sources, the aim of this study was to adapt the well-known MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay into a simple and efficient method to screen the suitability of drinking water without needing to know the nature of any possible contamination. This modified assay presents an immediate and reliable answer to whether water is potable without recourse to standard chemical and microbiological water-quality tests. The MTT assay was used here for the first time to test the effects of microbes, and not chemical contaminants as is traditionally the case, on the viability of human duodenum cells exposed to water samples of interest. Filtered tap water and water from a borehole, for example, had limited adverse effects on cell viability. Cell viability decreased greatly after exposure to dam, treated sewage and river water which confirmed the value of the assay as a screening tool.

Published

2013-07-24

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Prinsloo, S., Pieters, R., & Bezuidenhout, C. C. (2013). A cell viability assay to determine the cytotoxic effects of water contaminated by microbes. South African Journal of Science, 109(7/8), 4. https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/20120069
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