Electrochemical Impedance Based Genosensor for Early Detection of Bacteria Causing Damage of Human Heart Valves

Rheumatic heart disease in initial stages manifests itself as sore throat. The disease is inflammatory in nature affecting many connective tissues, especially the heart valves. Usually the mitral or aortic heart valves are affected, becoming either stiff or leaky leading to obstruction of blood flow. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a Group A Streptococcus bacteria. Present diagnostic methods are biochemical tests (culture test, gram staining test), rapid antigen detection test, fluorescence in-situ hybridization and immunosensor. All these methods are time consuming, less sensitive and non specific as well as and non confirmatory based on single test. Therefore, impedimetric biosensors may prove as effective diagnostic technique of diagnosis.