“The heat is on”: Rapid microcalorimetric detection of mycobacteria in culture

Detection of mycobacterial infection can be achieved by different means; however, culture-based methods remain the gold standard. In this paper, we present a new culture-based method using real-time microcalorimetric detection of growth of Mycobacterium species including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microcalorimetric detection of heat production by 6 different growing species of Mycobacterium was achieved between 20 and 310h depending on their type (fast vs. slow-growing mycobacteria) and initial concentration. This study demonstrates that microcalorimetric detection of mycobacterial growth is a potential advantageous alternative to methods using fluorescent or radiolabeled growth indicators.