Intrinsic Fluorescence Bacterial Identification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying and differentiating bacterial strains with antibiotic-resistance genes are laborious, time-consuming, and require reagents, generating bio-waste, and are not efficient in differentiating between various resistance genes.
Innovation Solution
The use of an automated optical analyzer system that employs intrinsic fluorescence and chemometric techniques to analyze multi-dimensional optical characteristics of microorganisms, eliminating the need for reagents and generating bio-waste, and allowing for rapid differentiation of bacterial strains with or without antibiotic-resistance genes and between different resistance genes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional microbiological methods are used to identify and differentiate bacterial strains with antibiotic-resistance genes, then identification can be achieved, but the process is laborious, time-consuming, and generates bio-waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical microbiological methods (streaking, incubation, colony observation) with an automated optical analysis system that uses fluorescence spectroscopy to identify and differentiate bacterial strains, dramatically reducing analysis time while maintaining identification accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the intrinsic fluorescence properties of bacterial cells themselves as the identification marker, eliminating the need for external reagents or labels. The bacteria's own metabolic components (NADH, flavins, amino acids) serve as the fluorescent probes, making the system self-sufficient and waste-free
2Measurement precision
If traditional microbiological methods are used to identify and differentiate bacterial strains with antibiotic-resistance genes, then identification can be achieved, but reagents are required and bio-waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the intrinsic fluorescence properties of bacterial cells themselves as the identification marker, eliminating the need for external reagents or labels. The bacteria's own metabolic components (NADH, flavins, amino acids) serve as the fluorescent probes, making the system self-sufficient and waste-free
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically problematic intrinsic fluorescence variability of bacterial cells into a beneficial feature for identification. Rather than viewing the complex fluorescence spectrum as noise, the system uses chemometric analysis to extract meaningful patterns that uniquely identify bacterial strains and their resistance profiles
3Measurement precision
If traditional microbiological methods are used to differentiate bacterial strains, then strain differentiation is possible, but the process is laborious and not efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual microbiological techniques with an automated optical system that rapidly acquires fluorescence spectra and uses chemometric algorithms to differentiate bacterial strains, significantly increasing analysis throughput while maintaining differentiation precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures multiple fluorescence parameters simultaneously across different excitation and emission wavelengths, creating a comprehensive spectral fingerprint for each bacterial strain. This multi-parameter approach enables rapid and accurate differentiation of strains with subtle metabolic differences
4Measurement precision
If traditional microbiological methods are used to identify antibiotic-resistance genes, then resistance detection is possible, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary characterization of bacterial strains using intrinsic fluorescence analysis before conducting resistance testing. The fluorescence spectral patterns provide early indicators of resistance profiles, allowing for faster detection and reducing the overall time required for resistance gene identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming phenotypic resistance testing (exposure to antibiotics and observation of growth inhibition) with rapid optical analysis that detects resistance-related metabolic changes in bacteria, achieving accurate resistance detection in minutes rather than hours or days
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a quick, efficient, and accurate means to identify and differentiate bacterial strains, reducing analysis time and workload while eliminating the need for reagents and bio-waste production.
Implementation Method 1
exciting with a light source the sample that has one or more bacterial strains with a plurality of wavelengths; measuring light emission data from step b) and obtaining an excitation emission matrix of the sample
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a method that allows for the differentiation of isolates of commonly encountered bacteria that contain specific antibiotic-resistance genes from similar isolates that do not harbor the gene. More particularly, the invention relates to a method that utilizes an automated rapid platform system that employs intrinsic fluorescence, optical data analysis, and artificial intelligence methods to analyze multi-dimensional optical characteristics of bacterial strains.