A METHOD AND KIT FOR RAPID RECOVERY, IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF MICROORGANISMS

摘要

The present invention comprises of a method and kit for rapid recovery, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of clinical isolates. The steps involved in the method are: (1) contacting patient"s sample with biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles, (2) recovering the target bacteria using a simple magnet (3) transferring the recovered bacteria to a multi-well AST plate containing different antibiotics and substrates that will help in identification of bacteria (4) data acquisition (visual readout/ Spectrometry using multi-well plate reader) and comparison with standard chart provided. Biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles are preferably conjugates of Lanthanum Strontium Manganese Oxide (LSMO, La1.xSrxMnO3), specifically La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 with chitosan and inactivated form of Lysozyme; the latter with specificity for Staphylococci. The invention shows that the biofunctionalized nanoparticles can capture even 3-5 CFU/mL from clinical specimen (such as urine, serum, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pus, ascites fluid, swabs etc.) and report on identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of the dominant pathogen can be obtained within 6-8 h. Environmental specimens (water, soil, air) can be included as well as specimen from hospital environments and inanimate surfaces.