Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) using RNAlater to minimize RNA degradation and perturbation of mRNA expression from cells involved in initial host microbe interactions

Host microbe interactions frequently involve specific cellular tropism. Accurate characterization of cells involved in these initial interactions is complicated by the response to the microbe. We describe a method utilizing RNAlater for Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting of these critical cells that minimizes the downstream perturbation in the gene expression profile.