Rapid Molecular Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Double-Stranded DNA Probes

The rapid detection of specific bacterial pathogens is crucial for the prevention and clinical management of infectious diseases. Current methods for pathogen detection are time-consuming. Therefore, a mix-and-measure assay is highly desirable. Herein, a double-stranded DNA probe is designed to detect the bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Double-stranded DNA probes consist of a quencher probe and a donor probe. The donor probe has complementary sequence to the P. aeruginosa is labeled with a fluorescin tag at the 5’ end. The quencher probe has complementary sequencing to the donor probe but is shorter in length. The quencher probe is labeled with a high quenching efficacy quencher at the 3’ end. When no P. aeroginosa, or target, is present, the double stranded DNA probe hybridizes, bringing the two labels together, and minimizing the fluorescence signal. When the target is present, however, the probe unzips thermodynamically, binding the donor and target together and emitting a florescence light, which is then captured, and quantitavely measured.  By proper design, the double stranded DNA probe can directly identify P. aeroginosa in urine samples from patients with potential urinary tract infections (UTI).  By using a double-stranded DNA probe, one can rapidly detect P. aeroginosa, which would then prevent further infection and lower hospital admissions due to UTI.