Causes of antibiotic resistance include enzymes that are called extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL). Since ESBLs demonstrate dynamic evolution and spread, and their substrate spectrum (resistance type) differs in some cases only by point mutations, conventional molecular detection methods (PCR, microarray) are pushed to their limits.

As part of the subproject, a quick test for ESBL detection will be developed, which can be performed directly from the patient's blood. The approach is intended to model the full spectrum of ESBL and also reliably detect new variants.
For this, a fluorescence-based method is established which allows detection in nearly all conventional fluorescence spectrometers and is based on the effect of the so-called Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The ESBL quick test will be developed on a platform patented by Alere Technologies (cartridge principle) for a point-of-care test device.

The test complements the development of a rapid test for the "Detection of carbapenemase-forming pathogens and their products" in the subproject.

This research project is part of the campus project "Pneumonia in Immunosuppression"

Project duration
01.02.2015 – 31.01.2020

Project coordination
University Hospital Jena, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control