Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Methods and Systems for Rapid Detection of Microorganisms Using Infectious Agents

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for rapid detection of microorganisms in a sample, without culturing for enrichment of the microorganism. A modified bacteriophage is also disclosed which comprises a non-native indicator gene in the late gene region. The indicator product is not a fusion protein. The specificity of infectious agents allows a specific microorganism to be targeted, and an indicator signal may be amplified to optimize assay sensitivity.