title: Paper-based ELISA to rapidly detect Escherichia coli.
abstract: Escherichia coli is a generic indicator of fecal contamination, and certain serotypes cause food- and water-borne illness such as O157:H7. In the clinic, detection of bacteriuria, which is often due to E. coli, is critical before certain surgical procedures or in cases of nosocomial infection to prevent further adverse events such as postoperative infection or sepsis. In low- and middle-income countries, where insufficient equipment and facilities preclude modern methods of detection, a simple, low-cost diagnostic device to detect E. coli in water and in the clinic will have significant impact. We have developed a simple paper-based colorimetric platform to detect E. coli contamination in 5h. On this platform, the mean color intensity for samples with 10(5)cells/mL is 0.118±0.002 (n=4), and 0.0145±0.003 (P<0.01⁎⁎) for uncontaminated samples. This technique is less time-consuming, easier to perform, and less expensive than conventional methods. Thus, paper-based ELISA is an innovative point-of-care diagnostic tool to rapidly detect E. coli, and possibly other pathogens when customized as appropriate, especially in areas that lack advanced clinical equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan; Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan; Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan; Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyun-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Meng
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsi-Kai
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mu-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kui-Chou
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-En
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. Electronic address: chaomin@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chao-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D010209:Paper; D013997:Time Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Escherichia coli; Paper-based ELISA; Point-of-care diagnostics; Urinary tract infection