Leading Antibacterial Laboratory Research by Integrating Conventionaland Innovative Approaches: The Laboratory Center of the Antibacterial ResistanceLeadership Group

摘要

The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) Laboratory Center (LC) leads the evaluation, development, and implementation of laboratory‐based research by providing scientific leadership and supporting standard/specialized laboratory services. The LC has developed a physical biorepository and a virtual biorepository. The physical biorepository contains bacterial isolates from ARLG-funded studies located in a centralized laboratory and they are available to ARLG investigators. The Web-based virtual biorepository strain catalogue includes well-characterized gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains published by ARLG investigators. The LC, in collaboration with the ARLG Leadership and Operations Center, developed procedures for review and approval of strain requests, guidance during the selection process, and for shipping strains from the distributing laboratories to the requesting investigators. ARLG strains and scientific and/or technical guidance have been provided to basic research laboratories and diagnostic companies for research and development, facilitating collaboration between diagnostic companies and the ARLG Master Protocol for Evaluating Multiple Infection Diagnostics (MASTERMIND) initiative for evaluation of multiple diagnostic devices from a single patient samplingevent. In addition, the LC has completed several laboratory-based studiesdesigned to help evaluate new rapid molecular diagnostics by developing,testing, and applying a MASTERMIND approach using purified bacterial strains. Incollaboration with the ARLG’s Statistical and Data Management Center(SDMC), the LC has developed novel analytical strategies that integratemicrobiologic and genetic data for improved and accurate identification ofantimicrobial resistance. These novel approaches will aid in the design offuture ARLG studies and help correlate pathogenic markers with clinicaloutcomes. The LC’s accomplishments are the result of a successfulcollaboration with the ARLG’s Leadership and Operations Center,Diagnostics and Devices Committee, and SDMC. This interactive approach has beenpivotal for the success of LC projects.