In this way, the sensor is able not only to detect dangerous bacteria with a high level of sensitivity but also to determine their concentration.
Each year, bacterial infections claim several million lives worldwide. That is why detecting harmful microorganisms is crucial -- not only in the diagnosis of diseases but also, for example, in food production. However, the methods available so far are often time-consuming, require expensive equipment or can only be used by specialists. Moreover, they are often unable to distinguish between active bacteria and their decay products.
This is precisely what the researchers have done."In our study, we wanted to detect a specific strain of the gut bacteriumfor short," explains Professor Andreas Terfort from the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at Goethe University Frankfurt."We knew which cells the pathogen usually infects. We used this to coat our chip with an artificial glycocalyx that mimics the surface of these host cells.
Researchers developed a single-use sensor strip that can be used with a circuit board to detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks. They collected nine clinical samples and introduced the test fluid into a ...