METHODS FOR RAPID MICROBIAL DETECTION

摘要

A method of testing for target bacteria involves adding bacteriophage to a sample to infect the bacteria in the sample; kill- ing extracellular bacteriophage without at the same time killing phage- infected bacteria; amplifying bacteriophage remaining in the sample; and causing the bacteriophage to infect reporter bacteria and thereby produce an observable signal. The reporter bac- teria are genetically engineered to have an indicator gene which on expressi on gives rise to a detectable signal, wherein expression of the indicator gene is initiated on bacteriophage infection of the bacteri a.