The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
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Updated routinely by Dr. Michael J. Miller, our RMM blog will keep you informed of new and noteworthy technologies, reviews of recent publications and presentations, upcoming conferences and training events, and what's changing in the RMM world.
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
3w ago
Cronobacter sakazakii is a harmful germ that can be found in powdered baby formula. It can cause very serious health problems in infants, such as meningitis and septicemia. Right now, it takes a long time and is complicated to check if the germ is in the formula. However, a new study has created a special test that uses a computer program to find the germ in the formula. This new method makes it easier and faster to find the germ, which is known for causing serious illness in babies. It helps make sure that baby formula is safe to use.
Cronobacter sakazakii, a pathogen in powdered infant f ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
1M ago
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and elsewhere have described a method of detecting blood-borne pathogens faster and more accurately than traditional blood cultures. The method, called digital DNA melting analysis, produces results in under six hours, much shorter than traditional cultures which can require 15 hours to several days depending on the pathogen.
Details of the method and results from a clinical pilot using blood samples from pediatric patients are provided in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics in a paper titled, “Universal digital high reso ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
1M ago
A new test, similar to COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, could detect a common infection in expecting mothers within minutes, potentially saving the lives of 150,000 newborns around the world every year.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria is carried by 1 in 5 pregnant women, and GBS infection can cause serious complications, leading to preterm births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths.
The good news is the infection, once detected, is easily treatable with standard antibiotics.
RMIT University is part of a consortium that has just won $3 million in funding in the latest Cooperative Research Cent ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
1M ago
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral disease that is spread through physical contact between people. Currently, testing for mpox requires lab equipment and can take a few hours to get test results. But new research suggests a way for faster testing that could be done in any clinic soon.
Md. Ahasan Ahamed, a graduate student mentored by Weihua Guan at Pennsylvania State University will present this research at the 68th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held February 10 - 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Though mpox symptoms are generally mild with fever, rash, and ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
1M ago
Researchers have developed a paper-based platform that could help quickly detect the presence of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria.
One of greatest challenges facing the world is the rise of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Their emergence has been fuelled by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, the researchers said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a handful of such bacteria -- including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus -- have caused over a million deaths, and these numbers are projected to rise in the coming years.
Timely diagnos ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
1M ago
Scientists who specialize in viral detection are embarking on a search for the most reliable on-the-spot tests for two viral diseases that have the potential to cause deadly epidemics.
In a four-year project funded by CEPI and led by FIND, the team will examine and evaluate all available point-of-care testing options for the two diseases. They will work to advance the best performing ones for further testing, approval and widespread use down the line.
“High quality and rapid diagnostic tests for Nipah and Lassa are badly needed to be able to help patients as soon as they seek healthcare in t ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
2M ago
Researchers in the USA and Uganda have developed tools that can detect the slightest traces of malaria in people who harbour the disease but do not show signs of sickness.
Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in many low-income countries, with young children and pregnant women most affected.
In 2022, there were 608,000 malaria deaths worldwide, with 95 per cent of them occurring in the African region, according to the World Health Organization.
Detecting malaria in people who do not show symptoms is vital in order to better control the tropical ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
2M ago
Cold, flu and COVID-19 season brings that now-familiar ritual: swab, wait, look at the result. But what if, instead of taking 15 minutes or more, a test could quickly determine whether you have COVID-19 with a glowing chemical? Now, in ACS Central Science, researchers describe a potential COVID-19 test inspired by bioluminescence. Using a molecule found in crustaceans, they have developed a rapid approach that detects SARS-CoV-2 protein comparably to one used in vaccine research.
From fireflies to lantern fish, many animals possess the chemical tools to produce light. Typically, this re ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
2M ago
Imagine the ability to quickly and accurately diagnose if you are infected with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or COVID-19 with one breath in less than a minute. A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis is developing an inexpensive, handheld breathalyzer that could make rapid screening a step closer to reality.
Rajan Chakrabarty, the Harold D. Jolley Career Development Associate Professor of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering, and John Cirrito, professor of neurology at the School of Medicine, will adap ..read more
The RMM Blog - Rapid Microbiology and Rapid Microbiological Methods
2M ago
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its Pathogen Genomics Strategy, laying out a 5 year plan for the organisation's role in the wider delivery of pathogen genomics to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats to public health.
The new strategy sets out a programme to improve UKHSA's ability to detect and understand the pathogens that pose the greatest risks to the UK population, which will help to ensure that policy and public health decision making is underpinned by the best possible scientific evidence.
Sequencing pathogen genomes to examine their genetic c ..read more