Automated phage quantification

Technology

Phage therapy offers a solutions to the antibiotic crisis.

Phages can also be used to combat any plant-, animal pathogens, foilage bacterium or fermentation contaminants.

An innovative droplet-based method for automated phage quantification was developed at HOGENT University College. Our method is based on the generation of droplets containing both bacteria and phages. During on-chip incubation, phage-containing droplets will remain clear, while droplets filled with only bacteria will turn dark. Time lapse imaging of these droplets is followed by automated droplet counting. Based on this information an accurate concentration of the phage stock can be determined.

Advantages

Compared to the gold standard DAO method, our method takes 2,5 min to setup, is automated, is more than: two times more precise, has a 100-fold higher dynamic range, is 12-36 times faster and leads to 28-fold less waste. As a result, the method is less labor intensive and more cost-efficient

Sample loading in chip

Mix phages with the desired bacterial strain (lab strain, environmental sample, or patient strain).
Load the prepared sample into the chip.

20250129 movie PMD4U procedure.mp4

load chip in device

Insert chip in device
Device initiates microfluidic processing and maintains preset incubation time and temperature
Automated data analysis provides PFU/ml
Method is less labor intensive and more cost-efficient
Video shows loading of sample and inserting chip in device

L2 facility

Preparing samples is done in a traditional L2 facility. 60 µl Samples are loaded in 2.5 min in our propriatary chip.
No microfluidic experience needed.
Processing starts within one minute.

Image processing

Image processing is automated.
Readout is fully automated.
Final results of the potency determination or the activity of the phage can be obtained within 2 to 24 hours depending on the bacteria.

Visualisation of data

statistical analysis and quality control results in a readout in PFU/ml on the strain of bacteria the phages were tested upon. Phage activity can be measured individually in laboratory strains, field strains, patient strains,....

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