Dyes and Uses Thereof

A method for identifying, or differentiating between, different bacterial strains in a biological sample, the method comprising:

• a) contacting a dye combination of two of more DNA staining fluorescent dyes and/or a cellular accumulation dye and/or a membrane dye with an aqueous biological sample wherein the two or more DNA staining dyes and/or a cellular accumulation dye and/or membrane staining dye are selected from the following fluorescent dyes:
• SYBR Green I, SYTO 13 or 9, DiSC3(5), and/or FM4-64;
• b) incubating the dye combination and the biological sample under conditions effective to enable staining of bacterial cells;
• c) taking at least one image of the stained bacterial cells;
• and
• d) qualitatively analysing the at least one image for fluorescent signal intensities for each of the two of more fluorescent dyes and comparing the fluorescent signal intensities with that of known fluorescent signal intensities for previously screened bacterial strains and identifying the bacterial strain in the biological sample when the fluorescent signal intensities are substantially similar to the fluorescent signal intensities of one of the previously screened bacterial strains.

A kit for identifying, or differentiating between, different bacterial strains, in an aqueous biological sample, the kit comprising:

• a) a combination of fluorescent dyes wherein the combination comprises two of more DNA staining dyes and/or a cellular accumulation dye and/or a membrane staining dye, wherein the two or more DNA staining dyes and/or a cellular accumulation dye and/or membrane staining dye are selected from the following fluorescent dyes:
• SYBR Green I, SYTO 13 or 9, DiSC3(5), and/or FM4-64;
• b) at least one chamber for enabling the mixing of the dye combination with the biological sample so as to form a mixture;
• and
• c) an imaging device for taking at least one image of the stained bacterial cells in the mixture and analysing the at least one image for fluorescent signal intensities for each of the two of more dyes and comparing the fluorescent signal intensities with that of known fluorescent signal intensities for previously screened bacterial strains and identifying the bacterial strain in the biological sample when the fluorescent signal intensities are substantially similar to the fluorescent signal intensities of one of the previously screened bacterial strainsbacterial strain.