Rapid Bead-Based Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing by Optical Diffusometry

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 10;11(2):e0148864. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148864. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

This study combined optical diffusometry and bead-based immunoassays to develop a novel technique for quantifying the growth of specific microorganisms and achieving rapid AST. Diffusivity rises when live bacteria attach to particles, resulting in additional energy from motile microorganisms. However, when UV-sterilized (dead) bacteria attach to particles, diffusivity declines. The experimental data are consistent with the theoretical model predicted according to the equivalent volume diameter. Using this diffusometric platform, the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the antibiotic gentamicin was tested. The result suggests that the proliferation of bacteria is effectively controlled by gentamicin. This study demonstrated a sensitive (one bacterium on single particles) and time-saving (within 2 h) platform with a small sample volume (~0.5 μL) and a low initial bacteria count (50 CFU per droplet ~ 105 CFU/mL) for quantifying the growth of microorganisms depending on Brownian motion. The technique can be applied further to other bacterial strains and increase the success of treatments against infectious diseases in the near future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Load
  • Cell Division
  • Drug Resistance
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology*
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microspheres
  • Motion
  • Particle Size
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Thermal Diffusion
  • Time Factors
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (https://www.most.gov.tw/), grant number 102-2221-E-006-024-MY2 to HSC, and by Chimei Medical Center, Taiwan (http://www.chimei.org.tw/index_c.htm), grant number CMNCKU10405 to JCW. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.