Methods, compositions, and kits for the detection of bacteria in a sample

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions, kits, and methods useful for the detection of bacteria. These agents and methods are primarily directed to a method of detecting the presence of bacteria in a sample, involving incubating the sample with an agent that binds to bacteria, such as, e.g., an agent specific for peptidoglycan or a component thereof, and then detecting bound bacteria. The invention includes lateral-flow immunoassay methods and devices for assessing the total bacterial load in a liquid sample.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 149,979, filed Jun. 9, 2005, now pending, which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 578,912 filed Jun. 10, 2004, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to analytical methods of detecting the presence of bacteria in a sample. In particular, the invention relates to devices and methods suitable for the rapid detection of bacteria in a liquid sample, which may be used in a variety of settings, including homes, production facilities, clinics, laboratories, and the field.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Bacterial contamination of water, beverages, food, pharmaceutical products, and other products ingested, used or excreted by humans or other animals is a relatively c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, they have contributed significantly to improved milk quality, but they still suffer from the disadvantage of requiring long incubation times. Since SPCs take at least 24 hours to complete, raw milk is comingled from individual farms before the bacterial load has been established.

Bacterial contamination of transfusion products have been known as a potential source of harm since the beginning of transfusion history, but so far only a handful of countries actually test platelet products for contamination.

However, it is realized that the frequency of bacterial contamination of blood platelets and the incidence of illness and fatalities caused by bacterial contamination, greatly exceed that of viruses.

Detection of bacteria in platelets is difficult, mainly due to the very low initial inoculum present in the product.

In addition, platelets may be contaminated with a range of bacteria that will grow at different rates.

This makes sampling a major challenge to developers and users of test systems, and may cause the presence of bacteria in a product to be missed due to sampling error.

Another challenge is the short shelf life of platelets (5-7 days).

Current methods may take days before a positive result is obtained, leaving very little shelf life for the products.

Methods, such as visual inspection or platelet swirling, although easy to implement, lack sensitivity resulting in an unacceptably high rate of false positives and the unnecessary destruction of viable and valuable platelets.

Metabolic methods, such as multi-agent indicator strips, which measure bacterial growth by decreases in glucose and pH levels, offer rapidity, but lack sensitivity, since several bacterial species have metabolic characteristics not responsive to these markers.

Traditional culture techniques require a lengthy incubation period of several days.

They lack specificity for some types of platelet contaminating organisms and are unable to detect the presence of slow-growing bacteria.

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