Abstract

Global threats to treatment of bacterial infections due to antibiotic resistance (AR) have been on the rise in recent years. Current diagnostic tests identify bacteria by using blood culture, which takes more than 24 hours. This study focuses on the fluorescent labeling of DNA derived from bacterial AR genes (KPC & VIM) and other model DNAs using oligreen dye (OG) and molecular beacons (MB). A NanoDrop 3300 fluorospectrometer was used to take fluorescence measurements. Linear dynamic range and labeling efficiency were dependent on the following optimized conditions: dilution factor of OG (200 fold), buffer (20 mM Tris HCl, pH 8), and heat treatment of 95 °C for 15 min.Fluorescence analysis of a target DNA with a designed MB showed signal-to-background of 10 with our buffer only and 20 with our buffer and 25% ethanol. I also demonstrated a simple microfluidic device capable of detecting AR genes using model DNAs, magnetic beads, and designed MBs for assays of µ50 L volume. This study provides a first step towards detecting MB-DNA complexes by a simple, low cost, and fast non-amplified method, which may be used to detect AR genes in clinical samples in the future.

Degree

College and Department

Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Chemistry and Biochemistry

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/