<p>(a, d, g) Cy3-labeled species-specific probes. (b, e, h) FAM-labeled pan-eubacterial probe staining virtually all bacteria. (c, f, i) Non-intercalating DNA stain DAPI. (a–c) Perfect match of <i>H. haemolyticus</i> with a <i>H. haemolyticus</i> probe (Haha 16S1242). Fluorescence due to the species-specific probe is even higher than fluorescence due to the pan-eubacterial probe (intensity 5+). (d–f) Borderline match of <i>H. influenzae</i> with a <i>H. influenzae</i> probe/competitor probe combination (Hain 16S1253/Hain 16S1253comp). Fluorescence due to the species-specific probe is as high as fluorescence due to the pan-eubacterial probe for only few bacteria and is considerably lower for all other <i>H. influenzae</i> bacteria in a pure culture (intensity 3+). (g–i) No matching of <i>H. parahaemolyticus</i> with a probe with specificity for <i>H. influenzae</i>. Only slight autofluorescence is visible in the Cy3-channel (intensity 1+) compared with adequate fluorescence due to the pan-eubacterial probe.</p
