NoteA flow-cytometric method to evaluate eosinophil-mediated uptake of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri

- A method for evaluating uptake of L. reuteri by mouse eosinophils is presented.
- Cells that have incorporated fluorescent L. reuteri are detected by flow cytometry.
- Kanamycin destroys exogenous L. reuteri but has no impact on eosinophil viability.
- This quantitative assay may be used to evaluate eosinophils from gene-deleted mice.

Eosinophils are resident leukocytes of gut mucosa. Here we present a combined flow cytometric-antibiotic protection assay to identify mouse eosinophils capable of bacterial uptake, specifically, Gram-positive Lactobacillus reuteri, in studies performed ex vivo. The assay may be adapted for use in vivo.