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Project 1: Development of Rapid Assays to Diagnose Mastitis.

Principal Investigator: Professor Richard O'Kennedy

Project Description

Mastitis is the most important disease of dairy cattle world-wide and is of major economic importance in Ireland. It is caused by a number of bacteria and its treatment often involves the use of antibiotics. This has associated problems related to inhibition of useful micro-organisms e.g. in yogurt production or fermented milk-based foods and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the wide-spread usage of antibiotics. Working in conjunction with Enfer Scientific, the leading Irish veterinary diagnostics company, new approaches for the early diagnosis of mastitis are being developed. This research is also carried out in collaboration with Prof Terry Smith and Dr Majella Maher, of NUI, Galway. The work combines the expertise of all the partners in molecular biology, microbial identification, antibody-assay development and microfluidics with the ultimate aim of developing a rapid, easy to apply diagnostic device that can be used on the farm.
The student project will involve the development of an antibody-based assay to key diagnostic markers of mastitis and their incorporation onto a novel diagnostic platform. The assay will be tested on a range of samples and validated on samples from mastitic animals. The results will be verified against standard lab-based assays.

Benefits to or Role of Student

The student will join a team of researchers and learn key aspects of research related to mastitis and its diagnosis. Initially, specific antibodies and antibody fragments will be generated that react with defined markers of mastitis. Many of these have already been developed. These fragments are generated using molecular biological techniques and have very high performance characteristics. The next stage of the project will involve structural investigation and exploration of the binding kinetics of the antibodies produced with the biomarkers.. This will be performed using optical sensor technology, the advantages of which include greater sensitivity as well as high levels of speed and automation. Finally, attention will be focused on assay development and the novel platform technology. The inputs of the student will help the progress of the work and they will accomplish a number of tasks, using advanced biological methods. This should greatly excite their interest in research in a veterinary diagnostic problem of major significance to farmers and the Irish economy and the work of the BDI. It will also allow close interaction with industry.

How project fits in with overall objective of research group

The student will join a team of multi-disciplinary and multi-site collaborative researchers targeting mastitis

The development of these approaches is a key element of the work of the Biomedical Diagnostic Institute where rapid diagnosis is of significance.

It is of major clinical and commercial relevance

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	Project 1: Development of Rapid Assays to Diagnose Mastitis. Principal Investigator: Professor Richard O'Kennedy Project Description Mastitis is the most important disease of dairy cattle world-wide and is of major economic importance in Ireland. It is caused by a number of bacteria and its treatment often involves the use of antibiotics. This has associated problems related to inhibition of useful micro-organisms e.g. in yogurt production or fermented milk-based foods and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the wide-spread usage of antibiotics. Working in conjunction with Enfer Scientific, the leading Irish veterinary diagnostics company, new approaches for the early diagnosis of mastitis are being developed. This research is also carried out in collaboration with Prof Terry Smith and Dr Majella Maher, of NUI, Galway. The work combines the expertise of all the partners in molecular biology, microbial identification, antibody-assay development and microfluidics with the ultimate aim of developing a rapid, easy to apply diagnostic device that can be used on the farm. The student project will involve the development of an antibody-based assay to key diagnostic markers of mastitis and their incorporation onto a novel diagnostic platform. The assay will be tested on a range of samples and validated on samples from mastitic animals. The results will be verified against standard lab-based assays. Benefits to or Role of Student The student will join a team of researchers and learn key aspects of research related to mastitis and its diagnosis. Initially, specific antibodies and antibody fragments will be generated that react with defined markers of mastitis. Many of these have already been developed. These fragments are generated using molecular biological techniques and have very high performance characteristics. The next stage of the project will involve structural investigation and exploration of the binding kinetics of the antibodies produced with the biomarkers.. This will be performed using optical sensor technology, the advantages of which include greater sensitivity as well as high levels of speed and automation. Finally, attention will be focused on assay development and the novel platform technology. The inputs of the student will help the progress of the work and they will accomplish a number of tasks, using advanced biological methods. This should greatly excite their interest in research in a veterinary diagnostic problem of major significance to farmers and the Irish economy and the work of the BDI. It will also allow close interaction with industry. How project fits in with overall objective of research group The student will join a team of multi-disciplinary and multi-site collaborative researchers targeting mastitis The development of these approaches is a key element of the work of the Biomedical Diagnostic Institute where rapid diagnosis is of significance. It is of major clinical and commercial relevance Back