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Application of firefly luciferase assay for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to antimicrobial drug sensitivity testingThe development of a rapid method for determining microbial susceptibilities to antibiotics using the firefly luciferase assay for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is documented. The reduction of bacterial ATP by an antimicrobial agent was determined to be a valid measure of drug effect in most cases. The effect of 12 antibiotics on 8 different bacterial species gave a 94 percent correlation with the standard Kirby-Buer-Agar disc diffusion method. A 93 percent correlation was obtained when the ATP assay method was applied directly to 50 urine specimens from patients with urinary tract infections. Urine samples were centrifuged first to that bacterial pellets could be suspended in broth. No primary isolation or subculturing was required. Mixed cultures in which one species was predominant gave accurate results for the most abundant organism. Since the method is based on an increase in bacterial ATP with time, the presence of leukocytes did not interfere with the interpretation of results. Both the incubation procedure and the ATP assays are compatible with automation.
Document ID
19770023766
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - NASA Technical Note (TN)
Authors
Picciolo, G. L.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Tuttle, S. A.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Schrock, C. G.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Deming, J. W.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Barza, M. J.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Wienstein, L.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Chappelle, E. W.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
September 3, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1977
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TN-D-8439
G-7703
Report Number: NASA-TN-D-8439
Report Number: G-7703
Accession Number
77N30710
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 644-02-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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