Microbiology, throughout its history, has relied on the ability to visualize microorganisms following its growth in culture. Typically, culture has been performed using a liquid medium such as a nutrient broth or on a plated medium such as an agar plate. While the culturing of microorganisms is still an important practice in microbiology, the time required for microbial growth and characterization can be problematic and time consuming.
The need for rapid results from microbiological tests has been recognized by microbiologists across numerous practice areas including food safety, environmental quality, and all aspects of diagnostics. Rapid analytical and identification methods are now becoming standard practice in microbiological laboratories. These methods range from automated systems to perform traditional culture and biochemical testing to nucleic acid based methods for identification and resistance factors. Mass spectroscopy, in multiple formats is being used to study cellular components and metabolites, particularly toxins. Advanced immunological tools, such as lateral flow devices, have transitioned testing out of the laboratory and into the field. Continued advances in the field of rapid methods promise to bring greater accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and time savings to the many aspects of modern microbiology.
Workshop Topics:
- Growth/Viability - Growth technologies rely on the measure of biochemical or physiological parameters that reflect growth of microorganisms. Viability based Technologies use viability stains and laser excitation for the detection and quantification of microorganisms without the need for cellular growth.
- Cellular Components – Technologies rely on the detection and analysis of specific portions of the microbial cell, including ATP, endotoxin, proteins, and surface macromolecules.
- Optical Spectroscopy – methods utilize light scattering and other optical techniques to detect, enumerate, and identify microorganisms.
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Based-Technologies which employ a variety of amplification modalities: DNA amplification, RNA amplification, qPCR, Lamp, and other isothermal technologies.
- Nano and MEMS – Technologies which utilize micro-arrays, biosensors, lab-on-a-chip, or micro-fluidic systems, and nanotechnology.
- Collect/Detect – Technologies which accelerate and facilitate the collection, concentration and detection of microorganisms.
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