ADVANCED DIGITAL DETECTOR SYSTEM FOR MDR-TB SCREENING

结核病仍然是世界上单一传染病导致死亡的主要原因，随着耐多药结核病（MDR-TB）的出现和传播，这一威胁正变得更加严重。现有的检测各种结核分枝杆菌菌株的方法复杂、耗时和昂贵，不适合在疾病传播最猖獗的发展中国家使用。该项目的目的是开发一种仪器，将先进的图像增强技术与最近发展的荧光素酶报告分枝杆菌噬菌体（LRM）技术相结合，从而产生一种新的快速筛选方法，大大提高了灵敏度和易用性。拟议的第二阶段工作将是InterScience， Inc.（一家在数字图像增强技术方面拥有丰富专业知识的技术开发公司）和阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦医学院（Albert Einstein College of Medicine）的团队之间合作的延续，该团队基于LMR的使用来指示分枝杆菌的健康状况。在第一阶段，这个概念的可行性和优势已经得到证明。第二阶段工作将以第一阶段工作的成功成果为基础，制定和实施优化设计并开展实地试验，以确立该系统作为各种结核分枝杆菌菌株检测和药物敏感性试验的首选工具。开发一种用于结核病快速诊断和药敏试验的紧凑、低成本和高灵敏度系统将对研究和临床应用产生直接影响。预计该仪器将适用于发达国家和发展中国家作为快速筛查耐多药结核病的工具，因为这些国家将有大量的商业需求。

Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death in the world from a single infectious disease and the threat is becoming more critical with the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Existing methods for detection of various strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis are complex, time consuming and expensive, not suitable for use in developing countries where the spread of the disease is most rampant. The aim of this project is to develop an instrument that integrates advanced image intensification technology with the recent development of luciferase reporter mycobacteriophages (LRM) technique to result in a new, rapid screening methodology with greatly enhanced sensitivity and ease of use. The proposed Phase II effort is to be a continuation of collaboration between InterScience, Inc., a technology development company with extensive expertise in digital image intensification technology, and the group from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the developer of the technique based on the use of LMR to indicate the well being of mycobacteria. Under Phase I, the feasibility and advantages of the concept has been demonstrated. The Phase II effort will build on the successful outcome of the Phase I effort to develop and implement an optimized design and carry out field tests to establish the system as the instrument of choice for detection and drug susceptibility testing of various strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION The development of a compact, low cost and high sensitivity system for rapid diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing of TB will have an immediate impact for both research and clinical applications. It is envisioned that the instrument will be suitable for use as a tool for rapid screening of MDR-TB in both developed and developing countries for which there will be a significant commercial demand.