Abstract: The invention relates to a method of analyzing the viability of a sample of cells using an aqueous solution comprising two fluorescent dyes. Dye I has the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl; Z.sup.- is a biologically compatible counterion;X is O; S; Se; or NR.sup.15, where R.sup.15 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; or CR.sup.16 R.sup.17, where R.sup.16 and R.sup.17, which may be the same or different, are independently H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or the carbons of R.sup.16 and R.sup.17 taken in combination complete a five or six membered saturated ring; and the benzazolium is optionally further substituted;n=0, 1, or 2;Y is --CR.sup.3 .dbd.CR.sup.4 --; p and m=0 or 1, such that p+m=1;R.sup.5 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkenyl, C.sub.1-6 polyalkenyl, C.sub.1-6 alkynyl or C.sub.1-6 polyalkynyl group; or R.sup.5 is an OMEGA;R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which may be the same or different, are independently H; or a C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkenyl, C.sub.1-6 polyalkenyl, C.sub.1-6 alkynyl or C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming distinctive intravacuolar structures that are unique to fungal cells and can be correlated with cell viability. The preferred dyes of the present invention are described by the formula: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently H; or an alkyl group having from 1-6 carbons; or a trifluoromethyl; or a halogen; or --OR.sup.6, --SR.sup.6 or --(NR.sup.6 R.sup.7) where R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which can be the same or different, are independently H; or alkyl groups having 1-6 carbons; or 1-2 alicyclic, heteroalicyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, containing 1-4 heteroatoms, wherein the heteroatoms are O, N or S; or R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 taken in combination are --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --M--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 -- where M=a single bond, --O--, --CH.sub.2 --, or --NR.sup.8 -- where R.sup.8 is H or an alkyl having 1-6 carbons; and t=1-4;R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons;X is O, S, Se or NR.sup.9, where R.sup.9 is H or an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons; or X is CR.

Abstract: The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes. In particular, the invention describes unsymmetrical cyanine dyes having a saturated or unsaturated cyclic substituent. The dyes of the invention possess superior fluorescent characteristics when complexed with nucleic acids, and have utility in any application which requires detection of nucleic acids. The presence of the cyclic substituent results in improved permeability in a wide range of living cells, resulting in improved detection of intracellular nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid stains that are homo- or heterodimers of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes, where at least one dye unit of the dimer is a substituted or unsubstituted benzazolium- or naphthazolium-pyridinium derivative, which dye unit is linked to another unsymmetrical cyanine dye unit, that is the same or different by an aliphatic chain containing one or more heteroatoms; such that the fluorescence of the dye molecules, when bound to nucleic acids, is enhanced. These dimers of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes have spectral properties and binding affinities superior to related monomers. In addition, the dyes can be tailored to absorb and emit in a wide range of wavelengths, which can be further varied by energy transfer mixtures, making the dyes useful for applications that involve simultaneous use of multiple dyes.

Abstract: The invention relates to unsymmetrical cyanine dyes with a cationic side chain, typically benzothiazole or benzoxazole derivatives, that exhibit enhanced fluorescence on binding with DNA or RNA, where such fluorescence can be used for evaluating the presence of nucleic acid polymers. The dyes generally have the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons; X is 0, S, or NR.sup.2, where R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons, or CR.sup.3 R.sup.4, where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, are alkyl groups having 1-6 carbons;n=0, 1, or 2;Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons, or aryl, or Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 taken in combination complete a 6-membered aromatic ring;Y is HC.dbd.

Abstract: Novel fluorescent precipitating substrates made from a class of fluorophores, generally including quinazolinones (quinazolones), benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles, benzoxazoles, quinolines, indolines, and phenanthridines, having the general formula: ##STR1## where carbon atoms of --C.sup.1 .dbd.C.sup.2 -- are further joined so as to complete a first 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring which may contain at least one of the hetero atoms N, O or S,where carbon atoms of --C.sup.4 --N.dbd.C.sup.3 -- are further joined so as to complete a second 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring that contains at least the nitrogen between C.sup.3 and C.sup.4 and may contain at least one additional hetero atom N, O or S,where the first and second aromatic rings may be joined by a 5- or 6-membered bridging ring that contains at least the C.sup.2 from the first aromatic ring and the C.sup.