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March 13, 2018

New diagnostic method makes testing for infections in people and animals quick and easy

Glucometer-inspired technology brings the lab to your home or pasture
Jeroen De Buck, associate professor, bacteriology, in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and PhD student Marija Drikic have developed a quick and portable way to test humans and animals for different types of chronic and infectious diseases.
Jeroen De Buck, associate professor, bacteriology, in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and PhD st Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航

Researchers in the  have developed a fast, portable and inexpensive way to test humans and animals for different types of chronic and infectious diseases. This new 鈥減oint of care鈥 method tests for signals of infection, such as specific antibodies, in blood, milk or saliva samples.

鈥淔or a long time, there鈥檚 been a need in the health-care system for a diagnostic device that鈥檚 available to test for anything, anywhere, anytime, to anyone,鈥 says Jeroen De Buck associate professor, bacteriology, at UCVM.

De Buck and PhD student Marija Drikic built on the concept of a simple glucometer 鈥 the device used to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetic patients 鈥 to develop their new biosensor technology. 

鈥淕lucometers are arguably the most successful class of biosensors currently on the market,鈥 says De Buck. 鈥淲e aimed to develop a technology similar in design and function but with the versatility to detect of a wide range of signals of infection.鈥

De Buck and Drikic built on the concept of a simple glucometer to develop their new biosensor technology. Their invention 鈥 the TreAsure Assays Biosensor 鈥 uses an engineered enzyme to convert signals of infection into glucose and the resultant glucose can then be measured.

De Buck and Drikic built on the concept of a simple glucometer to develop their new technology.

Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航

Out of the lab and into the field

Their invention 鈥 the TreAsure Assays Biosensor 鈥 uses an engineered enzyme to convert signals of infection into glucose and the resultant glucose can then be measured. It forms the basis of convenient point-of-care tests for animal or human chronic and infectious disease. 

鈥淎 cow infected with bovine leukemia virus produces antibodies as a response,鈥 De Buck explains. 鈥淥ur biosensor will detect the antibodies in a pin-prick of blood. The enzyme will make glucose proportionately to the antibodies that can then be instantaneously measured.鈥

The new portable device doesn鈥檛 need complex sample preparation or handling. So, testing a cow in a remote field, for instance, is simple. The technology has many potential applications, from people using it at home to monitor their health to veterinarians checking the progression of a disease in animals.

"After a sample is taken, it gives a signal that鈥檚 easily read out and quantitative. So, it鈥檚 not just showing a line like you get on a pregnancy test. Instead you have quantitative results that you can follow up to see how active the infection is.鈥

De Buck and Drikic are working on expanding the biosensor's capabilities to detect signs of inflammation and other chronic diseases.

De Buck and Drikic are working on expanding the biosensor's capabilities to detect other signs.

Riley Brandt, 草莓污视频导航

Looking to expand the biosensor鈥檚 testing scope

De Buck and Drikic outline the biochemistry behind their biosensor in a paper published in . They are now testing prototypes, and have incorporated a company, Creative Protein Solutions Inc., to bring the technology to market. They鈥檙e looking for investors and are working on expanding the biosensor's capabilities to detect signs of inflammation and other chronic diseases.

鈥淚t's unique that a single new technology forms the basis of simple test strips for point-of-care use, and can also improve lab-based testing,鈥 De Buck says.

The research has been supported with funding from NSERC, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Alberta Milk.