Lyophilized bioluminescent bacterial reagent for the detection of toxicants

摘要

A reagent, useful in the detection of environmental insults comprising bacterial cells containing a stress promoter operably linked to a lux gene complex has been prepared by lyophilizing the cells in a specified medium. The reagent may be used immediately upon rehydration where a positive test for the presence of an environmental insult is given by an increase in light production from the cells.