Detection and identification of bacterial strains
The present invention relates to a method to detect bacteria, the method comprising the following steps: coupling of the bacteriophages and/or bacteriophage proteins to a support, incubating the support coupled with the bacteriophages and/or bacteriophage proteins with a sample, optionally removing the sample and the bacteria in the sample not bound to the bacteriophages and/or bacteriophage proteins, optionally adding substances permeabilizing or destroying the bacterial membrane, and detecting the bacteria in the sample bound to the bacteriophages and/or bacteriophage proteins, wherein the bound bacteria are not subjected to a cultivation step.
1. A method for the detection of bacteria comprising:
a) coupling at least T4 p12 protein to a support, either by coupling the T4 p12 protein via direct binding to a support or via direct binding of the T4 p12 to a polypeptide, which in turn is immobilized to a support, wherein said T4 p12 lacks enzymatic activity;
b) incubating the support coupled to the T4 p12 with a sample; and
c) detecting bacteria bound to the T4 p12 protein, wherein bound bacteria are not subjected to a cultivation step.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing unbound sample from the support.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding to the support one or more substances that permeabilize or destroy bacterial membranes.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detection is performed by immunologic detection of cell components.
5. The method of according to claim 4 , wherein immunologic detection comprises colorimetric detection.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the T4 p12 protein is directly contacted with the support.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the direct contact is by adsorption or chemical bonding.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the T4 p12 protein is bound to said support through a polypeptide immobilized to the support.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide immobilized to the support is an antibody, lectin, receptor or anticalin.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the T4 p12 protein exhibits one or more modifications.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least two distinct bacteriophage proteins, each recognizing distinct types or genera of bacteria, are immobilized to the support.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the support is a microtiter plate, a test stripe, a slide, a wafer, a filter material, or a flow-through cell chamber consisting of polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, PMMA, cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, glass, or silicium wafer.
13. The method according to claim 1 , to detect bacteria in the areas of medicine, food industry and analytics, livestock breeding, fresh water or environmental analytics.