title: Extraction and sensitive detection of toxins A and B from the human pathogen Clostridium difficile in 40 seconds using microwave-accelerated metal-enhanced fluorescence.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is the primary cause of antibiotic associated diarrhea in humans and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Thus the rapid and accurate identification of this pathogen in clinical samples, such as feces, is a key step in reducing the devastating impact of this disease. The bacterium produces two toxins, A and B, which are thought to be responsible for the majority of the pathology associated with the disease, although the relative contribution of each is currently a subject of debate. For this reason we have developed a rapid detection assay based on microwave-accelerated metal-enhanced fluorescence which is capable of detecting the presence of 10 bacteria in unprocessed human feces within 40 seconds. These promising results suggest that this prototype biosensor has the potential to be developed into a rapid, point of care, real time diagnostic assay for C. difficile.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lovleen Tina
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Buddha L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baillie
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001681:Biological Assay; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D004076:Digoxigenin / Q000737:chemistry; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000737:chemistry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008872:Microwaves; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013171:Spores, Bacterial
chemical_list: C417561:Alexa 488 hydrazide; C417664:Alexa594; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C488583:Clostridium difficile lethal toxin B; D015342:DNA Probes; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006834:Hydrazines; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; D004076:Digoxigenin