Spinning and Fully Integrated Microdevice for Rapid Screening of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technology
• Molecular Diagnostics and Infectious Disease Surveillance

Background:

• Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) are critical healthcare-associated pathogens.
• Accurate and rapid detection of VRE is essential for infection control and environmental monitoring.
• Existing detection methods can be time-consuming and require specialized laboratory equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fully integrated, paper-based microdevice for VRE detection.
• To enable simultaneous DNA extraction, amplification, and colorimetric detection of VRE.
• To provide a rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool for VRE monitoring in diverse environments.

Main Methods:

• A novel spinning microdevice design with stationary lysis/reaction zones and a spinning component.
• Integration of glass microfiber filters for DNA capture, elution, and reagent delivery.
• Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for DNA amplification and colorimetric detection using phenolphthalein.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of DNA extraction, LAMP, and colorimetric detection on a single platform.
• Achieved a limit of detection of 10^2 CFU/mL for VRE carrying the vanA gene in spiked tap water.
• Identified both vanA and vanB VRE gene-carrying strains from environmental samples within 75 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The spinning microdevice offers a rapid, accurate, and sensitive method for VRE detection.
• This technology is well-suited for environmental VRE surveillance, especially in resource-limited regions.
• The device demonstrates significant potential for improving infectious disease monitoring and control strategies.