UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Rapid antimicrobial sensitivity testing by single cell nanoscale optical interference

Bennett, I; McKendry, R; Pyne, A; (2019) Rapid antimicrobial sensitivity testing by single cell nanoscale optical interference. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA. Green open access

[thumbnail of Bennett et al .pdf]
Preview
Text
Bennett et al .pdf - Published Version

Download (336kB) | Preview

Abstract

Growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global threat to human health, with estimates of AMR leading to 10 million deaths per year and costing the global economy $100tn by 20501,2. Current methods to detect resistance include phenotypic antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) which measures bacterial growth and is therefore hampered by slow time to result (~12-24 hours). Therefore new rapid phenotypic methods for AST are urgently needed3. Here we describe a novel method for detecting phenotypic antibiotic resistance in ~45 minutes, capable of detecting single bacteria. The method uses a sensitive laser and detector system to measure nanoscale optical interference of single bacterial cells present in media, with simple sample preparation. This provides a read out of bacterial antibiotic resistance by detecting growth (resistant) or death (sensitive), much faster than current methods. We demonstrate the potential of this technique by determining resistance in both lab and clinical strains of E. coli, a key species for clinically burdensome urinary tract infections. This work provides the basis for a simple and fast diagnostic tool to detect antibiotic resistance in bacteria, reducing the health and economic burdens of AMR.

Type: Working / discussion paper
Title: Rapid antimicrobial sensitivity testing by single cell nanoscale optical interference
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1101/679399
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1101/679399
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > London Centre for Nanotechnology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > VP: Research
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10090385
Downloads since deposit
74Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item