Bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics at an alarming rate, posing a major threat to our health care. Rapidly identifying the bacteria that cause specific infections is critical to preventing the development of antibiotic resistance. However, many researchers may face some challenging processes in superbug identification techniques. To address this challenge, Ace Infectious focuses on superbug research, providing drug-resistant bacteria identification services and services for the development of specific diagnostic methods.
Rapid Detection of Superbugs Using Phages
Phages offer a unique opportunity for superbug detection. Using the ability of phages to specifically target specific strains of bacteria, it may can be as superbug cell recognition elements. Phage particles are able to specifically recognize surface receptors on host bacterial cells and bind, leading to early and rapid detection and identification of drug-resistant pathogens.
Given the unique cellular sensitivity characteristics of phages, they can be used to create an effective identification method for drug-resistant bacteria. We offer services for the development of reporter phage-based superbug detection systems that take advantage of their rapid and sensitive properties making them ideal tools for detecting drug-resistant bacteria.
Rapid Detection of Superbugs by Specific Enzyme Identification
There has been found that one of superbugs' main defense mechanisms for developing antibiotic resistance is the production of resistant enzymes such as β-lactamases (Blas). For drug-resistant bacteria, we need not only to investigate novel antibiotics that target Blas, but also to develop new enzyme assays to identify superbugs.
As these types of enzymes continue to emerge, methods for selective and specific detection of enzymes have been developed and have become important diagnostic tools for the detection and monitoring of drug-resistant bacteria. We provide services to develop new enzyme assays to identify superbugs, which mainly target drug-resistant enzymes, such as β-lactamases.
Rapid Detection of Superbugs Using DNA Nanosensor
DNA-based nanosensors generally use DNA as a recognition probe. For known superbugs, specific DNA sequences can be developed as recognition elements to specifically detect pathogens in the sample. We can create DNA/RNA signatures to precisely diagnose and identify specific bacteria. We are committed to the goal of rapid detection of superbugs and offer development services for DNA nanosensors that can reliably detect target superbugs and unknown pathogens.
Rapid Detection of Superbugs Using CRISPR-Cas System
Diagnostic technologies based on the CRISPR-Cas system have been rapidly developed in recent years. These systems also can be designed to detect superbugs quickly and reliably. CRISPR-Cas systems can be used to detect nucleic acids and biomarkers in bacteria or viruses. For extracted and amplified pathogenic nucleic acids, the corresponding CRISPR-Cas system can recognize and cleave them. Then, quantitative detection of pathogens is achieved by fluorescence or other methods.
As experts in the field of superbug research, we help scientists design CRISPR-Cas systems to specifically distinguish and detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria, thereby developing new methods for superbug diagnosis.