An imaging system and method provides automated microbial growth detection for antibiotic sensitivity testing. A processing system having an image sensor for capturing images of an inoculated culture plate having antibiotic disks disposed on the culture media captures images of the plate at separate times (e.g., first and second images). The system generates pixel characteristic data for pixels of the second image from a comparison of the first image and second image. The pixel characteristic data may be indicative of plate growth. The system may access growth modeling data concerning the antibiotic disk(s) and generate simulated image data with a growth model function. The growth model function uses the growth modeling data. The simulated image data simulates growth on the plate relative to the disk(s). The system compares the simulated image and the pixel characteristic data to identify pixel region(s) of the second image that differ from the simulated image.

The disclosure provides cartridges that are pre-loaded with reagents for performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and FISH testing. Cartridges of the disclosure include various incubation wells loaded with different antimicrobial agents for differential growth analysis. Imaging wells with species-specific microbial probes, fluorescent tags, magnetic particles and dye-cushion layers allow for tagging and imaging of target microbes for differential growth analysis.

The present invention relates to a method for screening compounds for bactericidal activity using thermostable luciferase and based on a real-time bioluminescence measurement. The present invention further relates to a method for determining the sensitivity of a bacterial sample originating from a subject suffering from a bacterial infection to a group of known antibiotics and to a method for assessing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a bactericidal compound.

The present invention relates to a method for screening compounds for bactericidal activity using thermostable luciferase and based on a real-time bioluminescence measurement. The present invention further relates to a method for determining the sensitivity of a bacterial sample originating from a subject suffering from a bacterial infection to a group of known antibiotics and to a method for assessing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a bactericidal compound.

A platform and method for conducting multi-variable combinational interactions are provided. An array of multiplexing chambers in formed in a body. The body also includes a common well communicating with each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers and a plurality of variable wells. Each of variable wells communicates with at least one multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers. The common well is loaded with a first variable and different variables are loaded in each of the plurality of variable wells. The interaction of the first variable with at least one of the different variables in each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers is observed.

A platform and method for conducting multi-variable combinational interactions are provided. An array of multiplexing chambers in formed in a body. The body also includes a common well communicating with each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers and a plurality of variable wells. Each of variable wells communicates with at least one multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers. The common well is loaded with a first variable and different variables are loaded in each of the plurality of variable wells. The interaction of the first variable with at least one of the different variables in each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers is observed.

The present invention is concerned with an automated method for obtaining at least one discrete colony from microorganisms or cells comprised in a solution. This method includes a step where acoustic liquid transfer is employed. The present invention further relates to the use of an acoustic liquid transfer device for obtaining at least one discrete colony from micro organisms or cells comprised in a solution. The present invention also relates to an automated method for determining the presence and/or quantity of microorganisms or cells potentially comprised in a solution and to the use of an acoustic liquid transfer device for determining the presence and/or quantity of microorganisms or cells potentially comprised in a solution.

The present invention is concerned with an automated method for obtaining at least one discrete colony from microorganisms or cells comprised in a solution. This method includes a step where acoustic liquid transfer is employed. The present invention further relates to the use of an acoustic liquid transfer device for obtaining at least one discrete colony from micro organisms or cells comprised in a solution. The present invention also relates to an automated method for determining the presence and/or quantity of microorganisms or cells potentially comprised in a solution and to the use of an acoustic liquid transfer device for determining the presence and/or quantity of microorganisms or cells potentially comprised in a solution.

This disclosure contemplates detecting antimicrobial heteroresistance to guide antibiotic or other antimicrobial therapy. In certain embodiments, this disclosure contemplates avoiding a monotherapy with antibiotics to which an individual bacterial pie isolate is heteroresistant, because this can lead to treatment failure. Thus, in certain embodiments, one uses a combination of antibiotics to which a bacterium is individually heteroresistant.

This disclosure contemplates detecting antimicrobial heteroresistance to guide antibiotic or other antimicrobial therapy. In certain embodiments, this disclosure contemplates avoiding a monotherapy with antibiotics to which an individual bacterial pie isolate is heteroresistant, because this can lead to treatment failure. Thus, in certain embodiments, one uses a combination of antibiotics to which a bacterium is individually heteroresistant.