Recent Articles

Varma-Basil M, El-Hajj H, Marras SA, Hazbon MH, Mann JM, Connell ND, Kramer FR, Alland D. (2004).
Molecular beacons for multiplex detection of four bacterial bioterrorism agents.
Clin Chem. 2004 Jun;50(6):1060-2
PMID: 15161722

The advent of bioterrorism has highlighted the need for rapid, simple, and robust diagnostic assays to detect select agents. Mortality from select agents may be greatly reduced by prompt treatment; however, treatment may be delayed if diagnostic assays are outsourced to reference laboratories. Most bacterial species that would likely be used as bioterrorism agents infect the blood stream during the course of life-threatening disease. Furthermore, even “nonseptic” syndromes may produce hematogenous bacterial DNA that could be detected by a sensitive assay. This means that a rapid “molecular” version of a blood culture would fulfill many of the rapid diagnostic needs for biodefense.