RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES UNDER MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS

A LABORATORY KIT WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES UNDER MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS. THE KIT WILL CONSIST OF COAGGLUTINATION AND/OR LATEX AGGLUTINATION REAGENTS AND ENRICHMENT BROTHS FOR THE RAPID, SELECTIVE GROWTH OF SPECIFIC BACTERIAL PATHOGENS. THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD PRODUCING A FUNCTIONAL, EXPERIMENTAL KIT. COAGGLUTINATION AND/OR LATEX AGGLUTINATION REAGENTS FOR PATHOGENS ENCOUNTERED IN THROAT AND STOOL SPECIMENS WILL BE TESTED FOR SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY AND, IF NECESSARY, ENRICHMENT BROTHS WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE ENRICHED, SELECTIVE GROWTH OF THESE BACTERIA. THE REAGENTS WILL BE TESTED UNDER SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS IN A NASA KC135 AIRCRAFT. UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL LABORATORY TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE TIME-CONSUMING,REQUIRE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND TRAINED PERSONNEL, AND A BROAD RANGE OF TESTS, THIS LABORATORY KIT WILL BE COMPACT,EASY TO USE, AND REQUIRE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR STORAGE. THE PHASE II PROGRAM WOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD EXPANDING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE LABORATORY KIT AND WOULD INCLUDE A FULL AND EXTENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE KIT.