Thermo Fisher and HPA achieve breakthrough in E. coli research

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that it has achieved a breakthrough in the research it is conducting into the E. coli strain responsible for the current outbreak affecting Europe.

In partnership with the UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA), the firm has been able to identify the protein toxins expressed by the strain, which has affected more than 3,400 people and caused 37 deaths to date.

This discovery was made using Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry technology and will shed new light on means of minimising the impact of the outbreak, as well as opening the door for new treatment options.

Full results from this research, which was conducted by the HPA and a team from the company's Hemel Hempstead site, will be published in a scientific journal in future.

Dr Ian Jardine, vice-president of global research and development at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: "Our leading Orbitrap mass spectrometry system is providing researchers with the ability to understand what makes this E. coli strain so devastating."

The firm showcased a number of new additions to the Orbitrap range at the ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics earlier this month, including the Orbitrap Elite and Q Exactive Orbitrap instruments.