United States development testing bacterial infection sensor will replace the traditional reagent

According to the United States physicist organization network recently reported that Princeton University researchers through the study of the antibacterial activity of Xenopus laevis, has developed a measurement medicines and medical devices are subject to contamination of the sensor.

New sensors not only replace the existing common endotoxin detection kit (LAL), also promises to make two endangered species no longer drop in volume.

Xenopus laevis skin produces resistant bacterial peptides (two or more condensation forming amino acid dehydrating several peptide bond thus formed a peptide) against infection, now people have been able in the laboratory of the peptide synthesis.

Princeton University mechanical and aerospace technology Associate Professor Michael · McAlpin-led research team has found a new method, this peptide "to" tiny electronic chip, when the electronic chip contact to e. coli and salmonella, and other harmful bacteria, the electronic chip electronic signal is sent.

McAlpin on 18 October and published in the United States National Academy of law, said, this is a simple and powerful platform.

This electronic chip to replace the currently used to test whether the medical equipment and medicines to be infected with endotoxin detection kit.

Current common endotoxin detection reagent drawback: it requires the Horseshoe (Horseshoe Crab) of blood.

This results in recent years the number of horseshoe crabs, which would also drastically reduce the cause to the Horseshoe crab eaters declining number of birds.

The Horseshoe is a history with 4.5 billion years old, there is a "living fossil organisms".

Because their immune systems are evolving very well, their blood contains can resist bacterial cells — deformation cells against bacterial attack, like peptide protection of Xenopus laevis skin from bacteria attack, so it is ideal for testing bacterial infection.

In 1965, scientists use from limulus blood extracted material made LAL, used to test whether the drugs and medical devices.

In order to produce LAL, people engaged in fishing for King crab, place it back into the Ocean before, people will take their 30% of the blood. United States Geological Survey's report shows that this method of death rate may be as high as 30%. Ecological research and development organization, a conservative survey, the Horseshoe and rely on its dependent on the number of Golden Calidris has been reduced.

McAlpin team hope that based on the electronic chip technology ultimately replace LAL, as a standard means of contamination test, let people from the "Farewell" Horseshoe Crab blood, also let the number of Golden Calidris to rebound.

At the same time, making this new sensor will not be to the pressure of Xenopus laevis. McAlpin, making this kind of sensors, claw frog won't hurt.

The study was United States Asthma Foundation and the air force Scientific Research Council funding.