'Tus' test to detect disease

First published 6 November 2012

A small protein has been engineered to be a superhero in the world of proteins, and may help in the detection of a range of diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, a James Cook University researcher has found.

Dr Patrick Schaeffer, from JCU’s Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, will present “From Discovery to Diagnostics” as part of the Faculty’s public lecture series on Thursday (November 7) in Townsville.

Tus (pronounced TUSS) was discovered in 1989 by scientist Thomas Hill and his collaborators in the Peter Kuempel Lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA.

Dr Schaeffer said Tus was a small protein found in bacteria such as E. coli, which are found in the human intestines, that binds strongly to DNA.

“An essential step in the development of new biotechnologies is the discovery or engineering of new molecules with useful properties, having a wide range of applications,” Dr Schaeffer said.

“The idea here is to manufacture new molecular tools to improve current molecular diagnostics.”

Dr Schaeffer will illustrate how Tus has been used to develop new ultra-sensitive diagnostic tests for tropical diseases such as melioidosis.

“Tus will aid in the development of these ultra-sensitive tests as it improves the detection levels of current techniques because we use a more sensitive means of detecting the pathogen's molecules,” he said.

As well as melioidosis, Dr Schaeffer said Tus would help detect dengue, malaria and peripheral arterial diseases but it could be developed for virtually any disease.

Dr Schaeffer said proteins were versatile molecules and could do a range of things, such as binding to DNA.

“Proteins all have different functions and perform different tasks. So the trick is to find out what they are doing first.”

Dr Schaeffer was part of a team at Australian National University (ANU) which discovered the complex mechanism of Tus in 2006.

“Since the elucidation of its complex DNA-binding mechanism six years ago, the properties of this unique protein have been used for the development of a variety of new biotechnologies, such as improved immunodiagnostics for melioidosis.”

Details:

“From Discovery to Diagnostics”, presented by Dr Patrick Schaeffer

Date: Wednesday, 7th November 2012

Time: 5.30pm drinks and nibbles, for a 6pm presentation

Location: Medical Lecture Theatre, Building 45

Everyone is welcome

For more information, contact: Kiara Cantamessa, Marketing and Events Assistant on (07) 4781 5179 or 0419 547 797.

JCU Media contact: Caroline Kaurila (07) 4781 4586 or 0437 028 175