Microbial Antigen Collection via Filtration and Cell Lysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting microorganisms in infectious diseases, such as septicemia, are time-consuming and require special equipment, leading to delayed diagnosis and inadequate early treatment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a filter membrane with a specific pore diameter to capture microorganisms, followed by treatment with a surfactant and alkaline solution to destroy the cells and release antigens, which can then be detected using immunoassay techniques without the need for special equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional bacterial culture methods are used, then bacterial growth can be observed and identified, but the detection time is extended to 1 to 7 days
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into two independent pathways: traditional culture methods for comprehensive identification and rapid immunological detection for quick results. This allows parallel processing where the immunological method provides immediate detection without waiting for full bacterial culture completion.
Solution Approach 2:
Antibodies specific to target bacterial proteins are prepared and bound to latex particles or fluorescence materials in advance. This preliminary preparation enables direct detection of bacteria from blood culture without requiring pure culture, significantly reducing detection time while maintaining accuracy.
2Loss of time
If immunological techniques are used for rapid detection, then detection time is reduced, but special equipment and complex procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses latex particles or fluorescence materials as simplified copies/carriers for antibodies. These labeled immunoglobulins serve as detectable proxies that maintain the specific binding capability while enabling visualization through simple color changes or fluorescence, reducing the need for complex specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system utilizes color changes of latex particles or fluorescence emission as readable signals. When labeled antibodies bind to bacterial proteins in the sample, the resulting color change or fluorescence provides a visually detectable positive result, eliminating the need for complex analytical equipment while maintaining rapid detection capability.
3Loss of time
If bacteria are detected directly from blood culture without pure culture, then detection speed is improved, but contaminants in the specimen may interfere with detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs antibodies with high specificity that recognize and bind only to unique proteins of the target bacteria, ignoring other proteins present in the complex specimen matrix. This localized specific binding ensures that even in the presence of various contaminants, only the target bacterial antigens are detected, maintaining high sensitivity without requiring pure culture.
Solution Approach 2:
Labeled antibodies serve as specific probes that copy the binding behavior of natural antibodies. These immunoglobulins are engineered to recognize specific bacterial proteins with high affinity and specificity, allowing them to distinguish target bacteria from contaminants in complex specimens like blood, sputum, or stool without requiring prior purification.
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
Enables rapid and accurate detection of microorganisms, reducing the time to diagnosis and allowing for timely administration of antibacterial agents.
Implementation Method 1
allowing specimens containing microorganisms to pass through a filter membrane with a pore diameter that does not allow the microorganisms to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 2
wherein the microbial destruction reagent is an alkaline solution, or a mixture of a surfactant and an alkaline solution
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
This invention provides a method for easily collecting antigens possessed by microorganisms without the use of special equipment. The method for collecting microbial antigens comprises: allowing a specimen containing microorganisms to pass through a filter membrane with a pore diameter that does not allow microorganisms to pass therethrough; capturing the microorganisms in the specimen on the filter membrane; applying a microbial destruction reagent capable of microbial membrane destruction to the filter membrane comprising the microorganisms captured thereon to destruct the captured microorganisms on the filter membrane; and collecting antigens in the filtrate.