PaKuNaS

PaKuNaS – Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Innovative culture-dependent detection method with SDS.

The opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a widespread environmental germ that can cause serious human infections. Thereof, naturally increased antibiotic resistances make infections difficult to treat. P. aeruginosa is identified in water and environmental samples by a standardized culture method (DIN ISO 16266) with the disadvantage of low specificity and a time delay of identification in suspect strains. In this cooperation project, the cultivation method should be significantly improved in terms of selectivity, specificity and expenditure of time by only adding the anionic surfactant SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) as a source of carbon and energy. The great advantage is that SDS of P. aeruginosa can be used very well as a growth substrate and that it can only be utilized by very few bacterial species. Furthermore, the substance is toxic to many bacteria at the same time.

Project executing organisation: VDI / VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
Support code: 16KN013525
Project period: 1.1.2015 to 31.12.2017