New Diagnostic Chip Accelerates Vaccine Monitoring and Antibiotic Resistance Detection

Rapid Diagnostic Breakthrough for Public Health Challenges

Scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology have developed a microarray-based diagnostic platform that reportedly addresses two pressing healthcare concerns simultaneously: detecting vaccination immunity gaps and identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to reports published in Frontiers in Microbiology, the innovation significantly accelerates the development of diagnostic tests that could help contain disease outbreaks and combat drug-resistant infections.

Rapid Diagnostic Breakthrough for Public Health Challenges
Cutting Development Time from Weeks to Days
Targeting Last-Resort Antibiotic Resistance
Vaccination Immunity Monitoring Capabilities
Modular Design for Future Threats
Translation to Real-World Applications

Cutting Development Time from Weeks to Days

The platform’s key advantage, sources indicate, lies in its ability to shorten the search for suitable antibodies from several weeks to just a few days. “Our platform shortens the search for suitable antibodies from several weeks to only a few days,” stated Sascha D. Braun, first author of the study. Analysts suggest this accelerated timeline could prove crucial when responding to emerging health threats where rapid diagnosis is critical.

Targeting Last-Resort Antibiotic Resistance

The research specifically focuses on bacterial enzymes that disable major antibiotic classes, including carbapenemases that neutralize nearly all beta-lactam antibiotics and MCR-1 that enables resistance to colistin—one of the few remaining options when other antibiotics fail. Unlike conventional ELISA tests, the microarray tests all antibodies simultaneously in both capture and detection modes, eliminating numerous manual steps while maintaining accuracy.

From 49 antibodies tested, approximately 20% produced strong, reproducible signals suitable for rapid tests like lateral flow assays. The report states that researchers aim to deliver reliable results within minutes while maintaining both high specificity and sensitivity.

Vaccination Immunity Monitoring Capabilities

The platform’s versatility extends to vaccination monitoring, with earlier demonstrations showing it can detect antibodies against vaccine antigens for diseases including measles, tetanus, and COVID-19. Using just a drop of blood, pathogen antigens fixed on the microchip act as molecular traps that capture antibodies, indicating whether sufficient protective immunity exists., according to technology insights

The need for such tools appears growing—according to WHO and UNICEF data, measles cases in the WHO European Region more than doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year, with declining vaccination rates reported in many countries since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modular Design for Future Threats

Project leader Prof. Ralf Ehricht explained their objective was creating “a flexible testing platform that can respond rapidly to new health threats—whether it’s a novel pathogen, a vaccination gap, or a resistant infection.” The modular architecture allows expansion with new antibodies or target structures as needed., according to industry developments

The technology development involved multiple partners within the RESISTOVAC project, including INTER-ARRAY by fzmb GmbH for antibody development and microarray manufacturing, Senova GmbH for lateral flow assay expertise, and -4H-JENA engineering GmbH for system integration. Leibniz-IPHT led assay development from target selection to validation under practical conditions.

Translation to Real-World Applications

The platform is scheduled for use at the upcoming Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research, where scientists and industry partners will work to translate these diagnostic innovations from laboratory to practical medical settings. Potential applications include school entry exams, vaccination consultations, and health screenings for populations with uncertain vaccination histories.

As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise globally and vaccination gaps persist, this flexible diagnostic approach could provide healthcare systems with valuable tools for rapid response to evolving public health challenges.