Point-of-care tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic methods that are fast, inexpensive, and operationally simple are urgently needed. Here, we report on solvatochromic dye trehalose conjugates that permit the detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (Mtb), the causative agent of TB. Designed to undergo fluorescence enhancement upon metabolic activation, the fluorogenic trehalose probes enable the rapid, no-wash visualization of mycobacteria and corynebacteria, without nonspecific labeling of Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Labeling is inhibited by treatment with TB drugs suggesting the probes can report on drug resistance or susceptibility. Lastly, DMN-Tre labeled Mtb in TB-positive human sputum and blood samples, suggesting that this operationally simple method may be deployable for TB diagnosis at the point-of-care.

Environment sensitive molecules as next-generation biomarkers for point-of-care diagnostics

ACS Fall 2021

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