Mass transport of lipopolysaccharide induced HO detected by an intracellular carbon nanoelectrode sensor.

Hydrogen peroxide is a key component of the innate immune response, regulating how a cell responds to a bacterial threat; however, being transient in nature makes it extremely difficult to detect. We show the development of an improved biosensor capable of the rapid detection of the hydrogen peroxide produced intracellularly in response to both smooth and rough lipopolysaccharides (LPS) structures. The arising signal and mass transport behaviour to the electrodes were characterised.

Real-time bacterial detection with an intracellular ROS sensing platform.

Reactive oxygen species are highly reactive molecules that as well as being ubiquitously expressed throughout the body, are also known to be involved in many diseases and disorders including bacterial infection. Current technology has limited success in the accurate detection and identification of specific reactive oxygen species. To combat this, we have developed an electrochemical biosensor that is constructed from single walled carbon nanotubes that have been immobilised on an indium tin oxide surface functionalised with osmium-based compound.

Development and Assessment of a Diagnostic DNA Oligonucleotide Microarray for Detection and Typing of Meningitis-Associated Bacterial Species.

Meningitis is commonly caused by infection with a variety of bacterial or viral pathogens. Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) can cause severe disease, which can progress rapidly to a critical life-threatening condition. Rapid diagnosis of ABM is critical, as this is most commonly associated with severe sequelae with associated high mortality and morbidity rates compared to viral meningitis, which is less severe and self-limiting.

Cellular immune response to human influenza viruses differs between H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes in the ferret lung.

Seasonal influenza virus infections cause yearly epidemics which are the source of a significant public health burden worldwide. The ferret model for human influenza A virus (IAV) is widely used and has several advantages over other animal models such as comparable symptomology, similar receptor distribution in the respiratory tract to humans and the ability to be infected with human isolates without the need for adaptation. However, a major disadvantage of the model has been a paucity of reagents for the evaluation of the cellular immune response.

Drumming-associated anthrax incidents: exposures to low levels of indoor environmental contamination.

Two fatal drumming-related inhalational anthrax incidents occurred in 2006 and 2008 in the UK. One individual was a drum maker and drummer from the Scottish Borders, most likely infected whilst playing a goat-skin drum contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores; the second, a drummer and drum maker from East London, likely became infected whilst working with contaminated animal hides.We have collated epidemiological and environmental data from these incidents and reviewed them alongside three similar contemporaneous incidents in the USA.