The most advanced diagnostic technologies may be amazing, but they often do not make it to resource-limited settings, including those places where particularly dangerous pathogens are more prevalent, crowded conditions make outbreaks more likely, or medical facilities are less available. New technologies are addressing this problem.

Researchers from the Green lab at Arizona State University have reported a highly specific method for detecting point mutations. The technique can be applied in living cells and paper-based diagnostic tests, offering a rapid, highly accurate and inexpensive means of identifying mutations relevant to human health. The work is published in Cell. (ASU Biodesign story)

Scientists at the University of Toronto and Arizona State University have developed the first direct gene circuit to electrode interface by combining cell-free synthetic biology with state-of-the-art nanostructured electrodes. The work is published in Nature Chemistry. (ASU Biodesign story)