Mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are hard to identify because they hide within cells.  Diagnosis requires multiple steps, including PCR, and can take days, even weeks.  Researchers at the University of Central Florida, however, have used a ligand-coated magnetic nanoparticle technique (called hybridizing magnetic relaxation nanosensor) that works something like magnetic bead blood stem cell isolator.  Its developers claim that this is “at least as sensitive and specific” as PCR analysis, and can be done in much less time with lower cost.  One application is in diagnosing Crohn’s disease.   MORE