Biotechnology division at Brimrose to work on fluorescence detection of bacteria, toxins

With the goal of increasing its presence in the life sciences market, Brimrose Technology (Sparks, MD) has unveiled a new Biotechnology Division that will include work on a rapid and sensitive fluorescence detection method for bacteria, viruses, and toxins based on immunological (antibody-antigen) reactions.

The new division's research will center on the utility of the bacteriophage virus and phage lytic enzymes for treating, preventing, controlling, and detecting specific bacteria in the environment or in applications for human, agriculture, animal, or food use. Bacteriophages occur in nature, kill bad bacteria, are safe for animals and humans, are inexpensive, and do not harm the environment or cause the problems that antibiotics do. While bacteriophages have been used for some time with varying degrees of success, researchers working with the company show significant progress and should lead to greater use of these important viruses.

To prepare for the new division, the company is in the process of signing memoranda of understanding with various globally recognized institutes and companies, including the Eliava Institute (Tbilisi, GA), the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Nanjing, China), NHDetect (Reisterstown, MD), New Horizons Diagnostics (Arbutus, MD), and the International Phage Research Center (also in Nanjing).

New staff include Dr. Yingyun Liu, who will work on the application and detection of lytic enzymes, and David Trudil, who will help coordinate efforts with NHDetect (a company he directs) and New Horizons Diagnostics, which specializes in manufacturing tests for rapid detection of bacteria and toxins in human, environmental, surface, food, and water samples for use by municipal and corporate customers. The company also works with local and national governmental agencies.

For more information, please visit www.brimrosetechnology.com.