Detecting and measuring live pathogens utilizing a mass detection device
US8236508B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/56911
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Extremely minute amounts of live pathogens are rapidly detected using a piezoelectric cantilever sensor. A single pathogen is detectable in about 30 minutes. Pathogen-specific antibodies are immobilized on the sensor surface. The sensor is exposed to a medium that potentially contains the target pathogen. When target pathogens are contained in the medium, both dead and live pathogen cells bind to the immobilized antibody on the sensor surface. The attached target pathogen cells are exposed to a pathogen discriminator capable of discriminating between live cells and dead cells by increasing the mass of live cells. Example pathogens include Escherichia coli, Listeri monocytogene, and Salmonella enteritidis. Example antibodies include those that bind to the pathogenic bacteria designated as ATCC 43251, ATCC 700375, and ATCC 31194. Example pathogen discriminators include intracellular pH indicating molecules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.