A new rapid test uses a simple optical microscope to determine whether bacteria exhibit resistance to antibiotics.
The test capitalizes on the fact that all living cells, from microorganisms like bacteria and yeast to individual plant cells, vibrate on a nanoscale level. Some of these movements may come from obvious sources like the beating of flagella or cilia, according to Sandor Kasas, a scientist in the laboratory of biological electron microscopy at the 脡cole Polytechnique F茅d茅rale de Lausanne. But even cells without these moving appendages give off tiny movements. These may come from the opening and closing of ion channels in the cellular membrane or from other changes happening in cellular proteins as part of the cell鈥檚 metabolism.
鈻� (a) All that is required to conduct the new nanomotion detection test are a low-cost optical microscope and a mobile phone. (b) Here, E. coli bacteria are being viewed through the microscope. (c) The same field of view is shown, but here, false colors highlight bacterial displacement. Red is high-amplitude motion (proving the bacteria is still alive) and blue...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It鈥檚 easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.