Rapid Detection of Pathogens

Bacterial infections remain a major health threat and a leading cause of death globally. Rapid and accurate pathogen identification is crucial for timely treatment and reduced mortality. However, conventional diagnostic methods, such as bacterial culture, are slow, sometimes taking up to five days. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can amplify bacterial DNA for identification without prolonged culture, it typically struggles to identify many pathogens in a single reaction.

As a PhD candidate in Dr. Jeff Wang’s BioMEMS Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, Amelia Traylor is advancing rapid PCR-based diagnostics to detect a broad panel of bacterial pathogens. She employs nano-level microfluidics to detect pathogens at amounts as low as one genome! A machine-learning algorithm then classifies bacteria for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.

With this research, Amelia and the BioMEMS lab team aim to transform diagnostic workflows to enable rapid and accurate infection identification, supporting effective antibiotic stewardship and better patient outcomes.

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