Utilizing Recombinase Polymerase Amplification to Speed Up Bovine Tuberculosis Detection

In this video Associate Professor Cath Rees and Dr Ben Swift from the University of Nottingham in the UK, explain how, using bacteriophage and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA), they have created an incredibly fast and portable detection assay for Bovine Tuberculosis from a blood sample. The bacteriophage identifies live Mycobacteria in the sample and then the primer target is changed to identify the species of Mycobacteria. RPA is an isothermal technology, preventing the cells being lysed by high temperatures and therefore allowing the use of bacteriophage to lyse the cells.