Aminopeptidase profiling using a time-resolved, 96-well plate filter fluorimeter

A novel fluorimeter has been developed that combines the selectivity of time-resolved detection and the sample throughput of a 96-well plate reader, With improved background rejection via temporal resolution, a reduction in the limit of detection by a factor of 600 was attained over that of a commercially available 96-well plate fluorimeter. The excellent limit of detection was utilized to differentiate two closely related species of Pseudomonas, P. fluorescens and P. aureofaciens, at a bacterial concentration of 500,000 cells per well with only 15 min of incubation, High sample throughput was demonstrated by incubation of six bacteria samples and data collection in an amino acid 12-nutrient profile within 30 min.