Work

Recent advances in bacterial detection techniques targeting genetic, protein, and enzymatic biomarkers

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Rapid and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections is essential for effective clinical management, food safety, and environmental monitoring. Traditional culture-based methods are time-consuming and inadequate for addressing urgent challenges such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This review categorizes recent bacterial detection strategies into three major biomarker types: genetic, protein, and enzymatic. For each category, we outline the underlying detection mechanisms, evaluate analytical performance, and highlight representative technologies, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas (CRISPR-Cas) assays, advanced immunoassays, aptamer sensors, and enzyme-based assays. Meanwhile, we provide a detailed description of representative examples for each representative technology. Key metrics such as sensitivity, detection time, portability, and point-of-care (POC) applicability are compared to reveal the strengths and limitations of each approach. Translational progress is discussed with emphasis on commercialized platforms, field-deployable devices, and multimodal workflows. Finally, major technical bottlenecks are identified, and future directions are proposed for developing robust, rapid, and widely accessible bacterial diagnostics.

Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2026.101584

Authors: Hanren Chen, Jiayi Xiao, Bihong Diao, Shiquan Zheng, Huaze Shao, Lihong Liu

Institution: Southern Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Biosensors and Analytical Detection

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,950