Raman spectroscopic identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

In this study, Raman microspectroscopy has been utilized to identify mycobacteria to the species level. Because of the slow growth of mycobacteria, the per se cultivation-independent Raman microspectroscopy emerges as a perfect tool for a rapid on-the-spot mycobacterial diagnostic test. Special focus was laid upon the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) strains, as the main causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis worldwide, and the differentiation between pathogenic and commensal nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).

Isolation and identification of bacteria by means of Raman spectroscopy.

Bacterial detection is a highly topical research area, because various fields of application will benefit from the progress being made. Consequently, new and innovative strategies which enable the investigation of complex samples, like body fluids or food stuff, and improvements regarding the limit of detection are of general interest. Within this review the prospects of Raman spectroscopy as a reliable tool for identifying bacteria in complex samples are discussed.

Shedding light on host niches: label-free in situ detection of Mycobacterium gordonae via carotenoids in macrophages by Raman microspectroscopy.

Macrophages are the primary habitat of pathogenic mycobacteria during infections. Current research about the host-pathogen interaction on the cellular level is still going on. The present study proves the potential of Raman microspectroscopy as a label-free and non-invasive method to investigate intracellular mycobacteria in situ.

Raman spectroscopic detection and identification of Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei in feedstuff.

Burkholderia mallei (the etiologic agent of glanders in equines and rarely humans) and Burkholderia pseudomallei, causing melioidosis in humans and animals, are designated category B biothreat agents. The intrinsically high resistance of both agents to many antibiotics, their potential use as bioweapons, and their low infectious dose, necessitate the need for rapid and accurate detection methods. Current methods to identify these organisms may require up to 1 week, as they rely on phenotypic characteristics and an extensive set of biochemical reactions.

Identification of meat-associated pathogens via Raman microspectroscopy.

The development of fast and reliable sensing techniques to detect food-borne microorganisms is a permanent concern in food industry and health care. For this reason, Raman microspectroscopy was applied to rapidly detect pathogens in meat, which could be a promising supplement to currently established methods. In this context, a spectral database of 19 species of the most important harmful and non-pathogenic bacteria associated with meat and poultry was established.

Raman spectroscopy as a potential tool for detection of Brucella spp. in milk.

Detection of Brucella, causing brucellosis, is very challenging, since the applied techniques are mostly time-demanding and not standardized. While the common detection system relies on the cultivation of the bacteria, further classical typing up to the biotype level is mostly based on phenotypic or genotypic characteristics. The results of genotyping do not always fit the existing taxonomy, and misidentifications between genetically closely related genera cannot be avoided.

Assessment of two isolation techniques for bacteria in milk towards their compatibility with Raman spectroscopy.

The identification of single microorganism in food samples by conventional plating techniques or molecular genetic methods requires a time consuming enrichment step. Raman spectroscopy in combination with a suitable extraction method however offers the possibility to rapidly identify bacteria on a single cell level. Here we evaluate the two well-known bacteria extraction methods from milk: "buoyant density centrifugation" and "enzymatic milk clearing" towards their recovery efficiency and their compatibility with Raman spectroscopy for a rapid identification of microorganisms in milk.