From Texas A&M: nanotech to rapidly identify bacteria

From Texas A&M Engineering News: "A group of Texas A&M University researchers have developed a novel nanotechnology to rapidly detect and identify bacteria. Using a nanowell device with two antenna-like electrodes, the scientists can detect the electric-field fluctuations that result when a type of virus called a bacteriophage infects a specific bacterium, and then identify the bacterium present…'Our ultimate aim is to have a biochip where hundreds of nanowells and their preamplifiers are integrated. Each nanowell covers a different phage, and if a relevant bacterium is present, the corresponding nanowell will signal and identify the bacterium. This would be a pen-size biolab that would be able to identify hundreds of bacteria in five minutes.' "