Bacteriophage-mediated identification of bacteria using photoacoustic flow cytometry

DOI

10.1117/1.JBO.24.11.115003

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-1-2019

Publication Title

Journal of Biomedical Optics

Volume

24

Issue

11

ISSN

10833668

Keywords

bacteriophage, diagnostics, optoacoustics

Abstract

Infection with resistant bacteria has become an ever increasing problem in modern medical practice. Currently, broad spectrum antibiotics are prescribed until bacteria can be identified through blood cultures, a process that can take two to three days and is unable to provide quantitative information. To detect and quantify bacteria rapidly in blood samples, we designed a method using labeled bacteriophage in conjunction with photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC). PAFC is the generation of ultrasonic waves created by the absorption of laser light in particles under flow. Bacteriophage is a virus that infects bacteria and possesses the ability to discriminate bacterial surface antigens, allowing the bacteriophage to bind only to their target bacteria. Bacteria can be tagged with dyed phage and processed through a photoacoustic flow cytometer where they are detected by the acoustic response. We demonstrate that E. coli can be detected and discriminated from Salmonella using this method. Our goal is to develop a method to determine bacterial content in blood samples. We hope to develop this technology into future clinical use and decrease the time required to identify bacterial species from 3 to 4 days to less than 1 hour.

Open Access

Gold

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