A new test uses CRISPR to detect Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium that causes melioidosis, in hours rather than the typical three to four days currently needed. It also has 93 percent sensitivity compared to 66.7 percent for current tests. This could be a critical advance, since many patients die of this infection because it takes so long to determine which antibiotics will work for them. More than 165,000 cases of Melioidosis are estimated to occur annually, mainly in Southeast Asia and in northern Australia. The work appears in Lancet Microbe, and the lead author is Sukripong Pakde ..read more

Prof. Guo Shifeng's team at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a novel method that fills the gap between physical measurement and artificial intelligence in bacterial viability detection. The study was published in Cell Reports Physical Science. Bacterial viability detection is a critical necessity for the pharmaceutical, medical, and food industries. Yet, a rapid and non-destructive approach for distinguishing between intact live and dead bacteria remains elusive. Prof. Guo's team has introduced a robust and accessible method ..read more

A group of researchers based at Osaka Metropolitan University have claimed that their new handheld device can detect multiple bacteria in food products electrochemically using organic metallic nanohybrids. The team has shared that the rapid detection of pathogens including E. coli and Salmonella is “crucial in preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness”. Typically, practices to detect bacterial contamination involves testing food samples in a laboratory to asses the type and quantity of bacteria that forms in a petri dish over a span of days. However the Osaka Metropolitan University research ..read more

Cronobacter sakazakii is a harmful germ that can be found in powdered baby formula. It can cause very serious health problems in infants, such as meningitis and septicemia. Right now, it takes a long time and is complicated to check if the germ is in the formula. However, a new study has created a special test that uses a computer program to find the germ in the formula. This new method makes it easier and faster to find the germ, which is known for causing serious illness in babies. It helps make sure that baby formula is safe to use. Cronobacter sakazakii, a pathogen in powdered infant f ..read more

Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and elsewhere have described a method of detecting blood-borne pathogens faster and more accurately than traditional blood cultures. The method, called digital DNA melting analysis, produces results in under six hours, much shorter than traditional cultures which can require 15 hours to several days depending on the pathogen.  Details of the method and results from a clinical pilot using blood samples from pediatric patients are provided in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics in a paper titled, “Universal digital high reso ..read more

A new test, similar to COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, could detect a common infection in expecting mothers within minutes, potentially saving the lives of 150,000 newborns around the world every year. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria is carried by 1 in 5 pregnant women, and GBS infection can cause serious complications, leading to preterm births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. The good news is the infection, once detected, is easily treatable with standard antibiotics. RMIT University is part of a consortium that has just won $3 million in funding in the latest Cooperative Research Cent ..read more

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral disease that is spread through physical contact between people. Currently, testing for mpox requires lab equipment and can take a few hours to get test results. But new research suggests a way for faster testing that could be done in any clinic soon. Md. Ahasan Ahamed, a graduate student mentored by Weihua Guan at Pennsylvania State University will present this research at the 68th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held February 10 - 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though mpox symptoms are generally mild with fever, rash, and ..read more

Researchers have developed a paper-based platform that could help quickly detect the presence of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria. One of greatest challenges facing the world is the rise of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Their emergence has been fuelled by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, the researchers said. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a handful of such bacteria -- including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus -- have caused over a million deaths, and these numbers are projected to rise in the coming years. Timely diagnos ..read more

Scientists who specialize in viral detection are embarking on a search for the most reliable on-the-spot tests for two viral diseases that have the potential to cause deadly epidemics. In a four-year project funded by CEPI and led by FIND, the team will examine and evaluate all available point-of-care testing options for the two diseases. They will work to advance the best performing ones for further testing, approval and widespread use down the line. “High quality and rapid diagnostic tests for Nipah and Lassa are badly needed to be able to help patients as soon as they seek healthcare in t ..read more

Researchers in the USA and Uganda have developed tools that can detect the slightest traces of malaria in people who harbour the disease but do not show signs of sickness. Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in many low-income countries, with young children and pregnant women most affected. In 2022, there were 608,000 malaria deaths worldwide, with 95 per cent of them occurring in the African region, according to the World Health Organization. Detecting malaria in people who do not show symptoms is vital in order to better control the tropical ..read more