In a world where rapid and precise detection of pathogens is more critical than ever, we have partnered with experts from institutions focusing human medicine, animal health and epidemiology on a groundbreaking project that is set to transform how we approach molecular diagnostics. The project's ambitious goal is to develop an integrated, decentralized test format for rapid molecular diagnostic detection of pathogens and their properties. This includes identifying relevant virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes and performing typing directly from swab samples or other types such as milk utilising a BLINK Bead assay on the BLINK One, a novel cartridge-based open product platform that supports high-level multiplexing and parallel processing of multiple samples.
Current diagnostic methods for detecting pathogenic microorganisms are often hindered by complex workflows, stringent laboratory infrastructure requirements, and prohibitively high costs, particularly in a screening context. This project aims to eliminate these barriers by introducing a cost-effective, rapid, and precise detection system that does not compromise analytical performance. By leveraging a novel multiplex format that can process multiple samples simultaneously in a single test cartridge, the platform will drastically reduce the cost per test, making it economically viable for broad screening applications in both human medicine and animal health.
New resistances are typically discovered through bacterial growth tests . This discovery process has progressed to new techniques such as droplets and light scattering measurements. A new genotypic test can be developed only after the new resistant bacteria are sequenced.
With the BLINK Beads, each individual PCR assay is assigned to the specific bead code. Following nucleic acid extraction BLINK beads are encapsulated in oil and therefore act as isolated amplification and detection compartments. Thus, any cross reactivity between individual PCR assays is prevented. And this is why newly identified targets can be quickly integrated into the multiplex set by simply adding a new bead type to the bead panel. The test can rapidly adapt to new antibiotic resistances and MRSA virulence factors. The Leibniz-IPHT group has developed an alignment tool for rapid and accurate prediction of suitable target sequences for the multiplex panel that has been developed.
The proposed molecular biological screening test is poised to surpass any current market solutions in terms of performance, cost-efficiency, and throughput. This project envisions a truly mobile, automated, and environment-independent diagnostic tool addressing the need for pathogen identification and information concerning virulence factors and potential resistances. The latter would allow a significantly reduced use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment resulting in a decrease in AMR generation.
The project is a collaborative effort involving key research institutions such as the Leibniz-IPHT, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the Hans-Knöll Institute and the Institute of Medical Microbiology of the University Hospital Jena, BLINK and the InfectoGnostics Research Campus.
Our work has been supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under Grant 13GW0456A and the InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena.
The group has identified gene targets for HA-MRSA, CA-MRSA, and LA-MRSA ( as part of the One-Health project).
They have also performed sequencing of relevant samples and identification of new antibiotic resistances and MRSA virulence factors.
The UKJ team undertake sample collection and research on HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA.
The FLI team collected field samples and performed research on LA-MRSA.
The HKI team performed phenotypic resistance characterization.
Developed a nucleic acid extraction protocol for microbialpathogens from milk and nasal swabs from cattle and integrated sample-to-answerassays based on BLINK beads on newly developed BLINK ONE cartridges.