mignatz at mjmiller.roc.servtech.com (Dr. Michael J. Miller) wrote:
Actually, bioluminescent ATP detection by firefly luciferase is the
technique which comes closest to instantaneous for low cell densities.
Impedence and redox techniques require significantly higher cell
densities, therefore requiring some time for growth of organisms in
most circumstances. Even with high densities, the changes in nutrient
medium reflected in the impedence change would take some time to
develop. Apart from sample preparation time, the firefly
luciferase-based ATP detection can be accomplished in 15 sec. If the
data are aquired and analyzed by computer, the calculations of ATP
content or number of colonies (with calibration of ATP per colony) is
virtually instantaneous. Sensitivities are amazing with true
bench-type luminometers, rather than these chintzy portable
instruments that you sometimes see. Sometimes it does seem as if we
will finally come out from under the limitations of classical
microbiology. I wonder what we will find.
>Today, new technologies are used for rapidly detecting organisms and
>identification to the species level.
>Detection of microbes can be achieved almost instantaneously using ATP
>bioluminescence, impedence, and redox. Identification can occur in less
>than 24 hours using a variety of systems, including the Vitek, Biolog and
>MIDI systems. These use fatty acid analysis, and substrate utilization
>techniques.
>The ASM General Meeting (May 20, 1996, New Orleans) will include one of
>the largest vendor shows for Microbiology...all the manufacturers' with
>all the systems mentioned above will be present. Or check the ASM news,
>or call the ASM for ways in which you can contact the vendors for more
>info!
>In article <49gus4$o10 at ixnews4.ix.netcom.com>, aswang at ix.netcom.com>(Bernard "Butch" Garcia ) wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me, what the future trends will be in the detection of
>> pathogenic microorganisms? Especially with the use of computerization?
>>>> I used to work in a microbiology lab during the 1970's as a technician,
>> and I remember that Bacteriology was the last group that became
>> computerized and talking to my friends who are still in microbiology, I
>> find that there are many things that are still done by hand.
>>>> Even the ET (Enterotube) in our days was considered futuristic.
>>>> Sincerely,
>> Butch
>--
>Michael
