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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that remains a global health threat. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 12 million new cases are reported in adults annually worldwide. Syphilis rates are rising domestically as well. The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test (including automated version) and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test are commercially available and used to detect/screen active infection.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that remains a global health threat. Syphilis rates in the United States have also been increasing. Left untreated, syphilis infection can span decades and have serious complications including blindness, dementia and paralysis. Syphilis in pregnancy causes prematurity, low birthweight, neonatal death, and infections in newborns. Improvements in syphilis detection are needed to facilitate early diagnosis of active infections and monitor treatment with antibiotics.

Syphilis, a genital ulcerative disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is associated with significant complications if left untreated. Syphilis rates in the United States have been increasing.

A retrovirus can be any of a group of RNA viruses (i.e., HIV) that insert a DNA copy of their genome into the host cell in order to replicate. Retroviruses can cause persistent and often lifelong infections.

CDC researchers have engineered West Nile/dengue virus (WN/DENV) chimeras utilizing the replicative ability of the West Nile (WN) virus but presenting the immunogenic pre-membrane and envelope surface proteins of each of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV 1-4). When coupled with a fluorescent reporter gene, each chimera is able to generate live chimeric reporter WN/DENV (R-WN/DENV) expressing the fluorescent protein in infected cells. These chimeric reporter viruses (CRVs) are used to develop faster and less hands-on high throughput neutralization assays for DENV.

A major challenge to sequencing eukaryotic parasites present in clinical samples is the abundance of ‘contaminating’ human DNA in samples. CDC has developed a method to reduce host DNA from biological samples prior to sequencing of the 18s gene, a universal gene which allows scientists to detect any parasitic organism by one DNA test.

Lyssaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that cause rabies and rabies-like diseases in mammals. According to the World Health Organization, human rabies caused by the classical rabies virus continues to be almost 100% fatal once clinical symptoms of rabies appear, with no specific treatment available anywhere in the world.

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax-contaminated spores can be found naturally in soil and they commonly affect domestic and wild animals around the world. Although rare in the United States, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Mycoplasma are a form of bacteria that are commonly found as contaminants in cell cultures. They adversely affect cell line growth rates and viral vaccine production. Mycoplasma contamination is a challenge for the vaccine industry and virology researchers. Current commercial reagents or kits only temporarily inhibit the growth of mycoplasma, but cannot eliminate the contaminants.

The development of genomic approaches and nucleic acid based techniques has led to a large number of biological samples, including DNA, RNA, cells, tissues, and environmental samples that require storage. Typically, microbial DNA and RNA samples are stored long-term in laboratory freezers at temperatures ranging from -20°C to -196°C, the lower ranges utilizing liquid nitrogen. This often requires the use of several freezer boxes that can take up space and become difficult to sort through.