Brucella can now be diagnosed with more ease and speed thanks to the electrochemical genosensor based on nanostructured materials developed by Dr. Hossein Heli, a researcher and faculty member at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
Funded by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), the genosensor was developed to detect different strains of brucellosis to tackle the problems in early diagnosis of the bacteria which can hamper the treatment process for months.
To produce the genosensor, an oligonucleotide probe based on shared and specific genome sequences of Brucella strains was developed, a nanostructure of gold was synthesized at the surface by an electrodeposition method, and the performance of the genosensor was studied by the process of hybridization in different DNA densities.
The genosensor’s performance evaluation in cultured and human samples demonstrated a major increase in the sensitivity due to the usage of nanotechnology making it a more reliable, easier, faster and less expensive instrument for the diagnosis of Brucella.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella transmitted from animals to humans by ingestion, direct contact, or inhalation of aerosols. The disease is an old one known by various names, including Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric remittent fever, and undulant fever. Humans are accidental hosts, but brucellosis continues to be a major public health concern and is the most common zoonotic infection, causing more than 500,000 infections per year worldwide.
Your Comment