Use of charge-coupled device (CCD) image-enhancement for rapid screening and monitoring of prokaryotic promoter expression.

Charge-coupled device (CCD) image-enhancement was used for rapid screening of genomic libraries and allowed selection of promoters with differing characteristics. In addition, both the CCD and luminometry were used to monitor and characterize the expression from two Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola promoters. The same pattern of gene expression was indicated by the two methods but the CCD enabled the rapid non-destructive in situ monitoring of a microbial population, over a prolonged period.