Rapid electrochemical assay for antibiotic and cytotoxic drug susceptibility in microorganisms
US6391577B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12Q1/18
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention presents rapid methods for evaluating the effects of antimicrobial compounds on microorganisms based upon the microorganism's ability to transport electrons to an external chemical oxidant (a mediator) that is added to the microorganism sample. The mediator interacts with the terminal components of the respiratory pathway and the extent of its consumption is related to the ability of the microorganism to respire. However, under the assay conditions described herein the extent of mediator consumption is different from the microorganisms' ability to consume oxygen, due to the addition of metabolizable compounds to the assay mixtures. The consumed mediator is subsequently measured electrochemically (amperometrically or coulometrically) at the working electrode of a standard two-electrode or three-electrode electrochemical cell. The electrochemical signals (change of current or charge with time) obtained with microorganism suspensions incubated in the absence and presence of antimicrobial compounds are significantly different. These signal differences can be used to screen for antimicrobial effectiveness of antibiotic drugs against clinically important multi-drug-resista…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.