en 37034894 <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Background: </span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA) has become a worldwide concern as an epidemic bacterium and a cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. One of the major problems in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by MRSA strains is their multi-drug resistant trait, which causes the spread of infections and increases the mortality rate. Therefore, a rapid and accurate method is needed to identify MRSA strains, initiate appropriate antibiotic&nbsp;therapy, and control its infection. The aim of this study was to develop a twin lateral flow immunoassay system to detect methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(MRSA).</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Methods:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> First, BSA blocked AuNPs-anti<em>-</em>peptidoglycan antibody and AuNPs-anti-BSA antibody were used to detect <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(<em>S. aureus</em>). Then, AuNPs</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">-anti-PBP2a antibody was used to specifically detect </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">MRSA. Sensitivity, specificity and limit of detection of this twin immunoassay system were assessed using </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">MRSA, </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">methicillin susceptible <em>S. aureus </em>and clinical samples. Results </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">were compared to those of cefoxitin disc diffusion (FOX30) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as gold standards.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Results:</span></strong> <span style="font-size:10.0pt">The Limit of Detection</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> (LOD) of this twin system </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">were 10³ and 10⁴ CFU/<em>ml</em> for the first and second strips, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of this innovative assay in detecting MRSA were 92.30 and 97.36%, compared to </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">FOX30 and PCR, respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> High rates of sensitivity and specificity of this initiative system show its high potentials for rapid and accurate detection of MRSA.</span></span></p> Diagnostic, Methicillin-Resistant, Nanoparticles, Reagent kits, Staphylococcus aureus 100 107 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=60536 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/60536.pdf MasoomehAminiDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran92012Mohammad RezaPourmand 92013RezaFaridi-Majidi 92014