Background

A major impediment to improving sepsis survival rates is the lack of fast, reliable diagnostic technologies to identify a causative agent of infection. Reliance on slow, low-sensitivity culture methods means that patients are normally treated empirically, typically with broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Thus, patients may not receive the optimum treatment and care pathway, with consequences for infection outcome, as well as implications for the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Technology Overview

Researchers at the University of Liverpool propose the use of liposomes as a diagnostic tool, to provide identification of causative agents of infection and a quantitative assessment of infectious burden. They use liposomes to sequester bacterial toxins from small volumes (~ 2 ml) of patient blood and liposome-bound toxin is detected using a patented detection technology. The team have developed this technology for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus toxins. The test detects toxins as low as 5ng/ml and takes just 60 minutes from collection of blood to diagnosis.

Benefits

Identifies bacteria to a species level
Quick turn around (less than 1 hour)
Capable of measuring very low levels of bacterial toxin (5ng/ml)
Inexpensive to run
High specificity and sensitivity
Uses simple methodology and standard laboratory instrumentation

Opportunity

The University of Liverpool is looking to partner with industry or to out licence to a company who can develop their test into a kit suitable for use in clinical diagnostic laboratories.

Toxin Detection Test

Patents

IP Status

Seeking