Paper-based ELISA to rapidly detect Escherichia coli

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 145; pp. 2 - 5
• Main Authors: Shih, Cheng-Min, Chang, Chia-Ling, Hsu, Min-Yen, Lin, Jyun-Yu, Kuan, Chen-Meng, Wang, Hsi-Kai, Huang, Chun-Te, Chung, Mu-Chi, Huang, Kui-Chou, Hsu, Cheng-En, Wang, Chun-Yuan, Shen, Ying-Cheng, Cheng, Chao-Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Asymptomatic Diseases; Bacteriuria - microbiology; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - economics; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli - physiology; Paper-based ELISA; Point-of-care diagnostics; Time Factors; Urinary tract infection; Urinary Tract Infections - microbiology; Point-of-care diagnostics; Paper-based ELISA; Urinary tract infection; Escherichia coli
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.07.051

Escherichia coli is a generic indicator of fecal contamination, and certain serotypes cause food- and water-borne illness such as O157:H7. In the clinic, detection of bacteriuria, which is often due to E. coli, is critical before certain surgical procedures or in cases of nosocomial infection to prevent further adverse events such as postoperative infection or sepsis. In low- and middle-income countries, where insufficient equipment and facilities preclude modern methods of detection, a simple, low-cost diagnostic device to detect E. coli in water and in the clinic will have significant impact. We have developed a simple paper-based colorimetric platform to detect E. coli contamination in 5h. On this platform, the mean color intensity for samples with 105cells/mL is 0.118±0.002 (n=4), and 0.0145±0.003 (P<0.01⁎⁎) for uncontaminated samples. This technique is less time-consuming, easier to perform, and less expensive than conventional methods. Thus, paper-based ELISA is an innovative point-of-care diagnostic tool to rapidly detect E. coli, and possibly other pathogens when customized as appropriate, especially in areas that lack advanced clinical equipment. [Display omitted] •A paper-based ELISA method was developed to detect E. coli.•The method is fast, simple, sensitive, and reproducible.•It facilitates rapid diagnosis of E. coli infection in clinical environments.•Possibly, the method may also be used to monitor food and water quality.