Abstract: Multiplexable microfluidic culture chamber for imaging monolayer growth of single cells The present invention relates generally to a microfluidic device (1a, 1b), particularly for use in single cell analysis. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic device (1a, 1b) comprising at least one chamber (10), in particular at least two chambers (10) comprising a deformable membrane (16) and having a structure and geometry configured to enable formation of two-dimensional cell culture, in particular two-dimensional cell growth area (29), and imaging thereof over a growth period or a time period sufficient to analyze cells, in particular to monitor cell growth. The microfluidic device (1a, 1b) allows for multi-condition operation of single-cell screening at high spatiotemporal resolution. The present invention also relates to methods for fabrication and use of such devices.

Abstract: The present invention allows a screening method for identifying novel drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis as well as a diagnostic method for identifying clinical strains that are resistant to these novel drugs. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for screening in vitro drug candidates for the treatment of tuberculosis by interfering with the arabinogalactan biosynthesis, the said method comprising a step of putting into contact a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell culture over-expressing a protein that performs the transformation of decaprenyl-P-ribose to decaprenyl-P-arabinose and that can be encoded by rv3790 gene or homologues thereof or any open-reading artificial frame whose gene product is identical or homologue to Rv3790 protein, with a drug candidate and then evaluating the percentage of inhibition caused by the drug candidate against a control in an assay test, such as an antibacterial test or an enzymatic test.

Abstract: The present invention allows a screening method for identifying novel drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis as well as a diagnostic method for identifying clinical strains that are resistant to these novel drugs. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for screening in vitro drug candidates for the treatment of tuberculosis by interfering with the arabinogalactan biosynthesis, the said method comprising a step of putting into contact a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell culture overexpressing a protein that performs the transformation of decaprenyl-P-ribose to decaprenyl-P-arabinose and that can be encoded by rv3790 gene or homologues thereof or any open-reading artificial frame whose gene product is identical or homologue to Rv3790 protein, with a drug candidate and then evaluating the percentage of inhibition caused by the drug candidate against a control in an assay test, such as an antibacterial test or an enzymatic test.