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.
For a list of our reference customers, please click here.
MetaSystems Italy is proud to announce that we will be present with our own booth at the 47th National Congress of Italian Microbiology, this year organized by the “Roman Microbioloy School”, many important KOLs belong to, working in the utmost prestigious universities and research institutions.
The program comprises five keynote lectures delivered by leaders in their fields and a total of 25 parallel sessions covering hot topics from the different sections of the SSM – Clinical Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Prokaryotic Biology, Mycology and Virology. In addition to the authoritative talks given by invited speakers, a number of oral presentations will be selected from the submitted abstracts, and ample time will be allowed for stimulating poster sessions.
[...] the Congress programme will cover key topics in respiratory medicine from across the spectrum of 8 disease areas, including TB, lung cancer, chronic and acute respiratory failure, sleep breathing disorders, interstitial lung diseases, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, COPD and asthma, amongst others. We are set to deliver the best advances in both science and education, and will specifically highlight the importance of vaccination, smoking cessation, rehabilitation and clean air.
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