NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Scientists recently created a rapid antimicrobial resistance test that allows health professionals to diagnose and treat tuberculosis (TB) faster than ever, which may lead to a transformation of global health care.

The researchers, funded by the European Union as part of the PATHSEEK project, have sped this process by extracting mucus samples and engineering RNA molecules to bind to TB’s DNA. Routine samples from 34 patients in Lithuania and London were used to test this new method.

The current test is founded on whole genome sequencing. This sequencing offers a kind of printed version of a patient’s complete genetic code, allowing medical staff to more accurately determine the exact mutations of drug-resistant TB. This, in turn, enables health professionals to personalize treatments for each patient. Unfortunately, this testing method requires weeks to successfully sequence genomes for measurement.