Novel Probes in an easy and fast procedure linked with automated imaging for the detection of pathogens
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a global burden affecting millions of patients each year, causing significant increases in patient morbidity and mortality. Crucial for better patient outcome but also to reduce healthcare costs is early pathogen identification for swift selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Direct Multiplex Imaging (DMI) is the combination of a novel DNA-based multiplex hybridization technology with automatic imaging. DMI enables fast, specific and reproducible identification of multiple pathogenic microorganisms directly from samples, providing evidence for timely decisions and a targeted antibiotic therapy.
DMI uses molecular DNA-beacons as probes that specifically bind to complementary ribosomal target sequences (rRNA) in microorganisms. Commonly used hybridization targets are 16S and 23S rRNA, as they contain highly species-specific regions. DNA-beacons are hairpin-shaped structures that consist of a probe sequence (loop) that binds to the respective target sequence and 3’ and 5’ ends (stem) carrying a fluorophore and a quencher. With probe hybridization, the stem opens and a fluorescent signal that can be detected by fluorescence microscopy is emitted.
DMI assays are performed in just a few easy steps. The patient sample is applied to the detection slide, treated with the multiplex probes and hybridized. The hairpin structure permits probe hybridization in just 10 minutes. The high sensitivity of the assay makes additional amplification steps superfluous. After hybridization, no washing steps are necessary, as the detection probes fluoresce only when bound to the perfectly matching target sequence.
Evaluation of the assay is performed on the Metafer scanning platform, which captures and archives images automatically. Data review is straightforward with the clearly structured user interface and customizable reports. The total assay time including analysis, LIMS-compatible reporting and automated archiving takes just 35 minutes, with new results in continuous mode setting being available every five minutes.
The DMI assay for the identification and differentiation of the major bacteremia causing pathogens is already available. An assay for identification of the principle bacteria associated with pneumonia is in final development stage for European commercial certification.
Metafer is a highly flexible system and can be easily adapted to run other microbiological applications like digitization of Gram slides or automated tuberculosis sputum smear microscopy for detection and counting of mycobacteria.
MetaSystems’ imaging solutions beyond microbiology include Clinical Cytogenetics, Cancer Genetics and Cell Biology, Forensics, Pathology and Tissue Imaging, and Toxicology and Radiation Biology.
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The focus of the sessions is set to the following topics:
The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2019 takes place between Monday 8 April – Thursday 11 April and will be held at the ICC Belfast (formerly Belfast Waterfront), UK.
Nearly 4,200 scientists– a record number –who submitted an abstract for ASM Microbe 2019 can’t be wrong.
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