METHOD FOR ESTIMATING MICROBIAL DENSITY AND MICROARRAY FOR ESTIMATING MICROBIAL DENSITY

摘要

[Problem] To enable the estimation of the density of microorganisms in an environment. [Solution] A method for estimating the density of microorganisms, said method comprising using the after-mentioned probes a and b, measuring signal values which indicate the hybridization levels of the probes with a polynucleotide derived from the target microorganisms, and determining to which of the after-mentioned patterns 1 to 3 the microbial density belongs on the basis of the signal values and a threshold. Probe a: A probe which comprises a base sequence specifically hybridizable with the polynucleotide and shows a signal value being equal to or higher than the threshold at density α. Probe(s) b: One or more probes which comprise a base sequence specifically hybridizable with the polynucleotide and show a signal value being equal to or higher than the threshold at density β that is lower than density α. Pattern 1: When both of the signal values of probes a and b are equal to or higher than the threshold, the density is equal to or higher than α. Pattern 2: When the signal value of probe a is lower than the threshold and the signal value of probe b is equal to or higher than the threshold, the density is equal to or higher than β and lower than α. Pattern 3: When both of the signal values of probes a and b are lower than the threshold, the density is lower than β.