Tuberculosis isn't a disease of the past. The infectious disease causes 1.5 million deaths annually. Now, chemical probes developed by a Central Michigan University professor are able to detect TB quicker than traditional tests and have the potential to help with treatment decisions.
The bacteria that causes tuberculosis can lay dormant in the body, and an active infection can harm the body's respiratory system and other organs and may ultimately be fatal.
Ben Swarts, a chemistry professor at CMU said one of the challenges with TB is detecting it.
Swarts' lab has created a chemical probe that can detect the bacteria quicker than currently available tests and it can tell if the bacteria is drug resistant.
“Having that information and having it quickly helps physicians decide which antibiotics to put a patient on early on so that they have the best chance of clearing the disease.”
Swarts said the chemical probes have so far been tested in a controlled lab environment. The next big step is clinical testing on human subjects which he hopes will start within the next year, Swarts said.