Removal of free extracellular DNA from environmental samples by ethidium monoazide and propidium monoazide

Recently, new DNA extraction techniques (using ethidium monoazide and propidium monoazide) have been developed to discriminate between alive and dead bacterial cells. Nevertheless, for complex environmental samples, no data are available yet. In the present study, these new methods were applied to anaerobic-fermentor sludge and the results were compared to a conventional microbiological approach.