Real-time bacterial identification device to be unveiled in Viseu
A new device designed to identify bacteria in humans, animals, or the environment in real time and to indicate the most effective antibiotic will be presented on Friday in Viseu. Developed by ALS as part of the SMARTgNOTICS consortium—which unites public and private Portuguese entities—the technology aims to transform how infections are diagnosed and treated by providing rapid, targeted responses to antimicrobial resistance.
About the SMARTgNOTICS effort and the partners
ALS describes SMARTgNOTICS as a collaborative effort that brings together diverse players across the health and biosciences sector in Portugal. The device is set to undergo its first real-world tests in 2024, including human and veterinary applications, with deployments planned at CUF Hospital and the Lusiaves group. This dual-use approach underscores the One Health perspective, which links human, animal, and environmental health in the fight against resistant bacteria.
Where and how the tests will unfold
According to ALS, the technology will be tested in clinical and agricultural settings, enabling clinicians and veterinarians to determine the exact bacterial culprit and prescribe the correct antibiotic without delay. In hospital environments such as CUF, and within the agricultural sphere represented by Lusiaves, the device is expected to shorten diagnostic timelines, reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, and improve patient and animal outcomes.
The broader stakes: antimicrobial resistance and rapid diagnostics
ALS highlights that antimicrobial resistance is killing more people worldwide, with urgent needs in veterinary medicine for real-time answers. The device’s capability to identify the bacteria causing an infection and swiftly guide therapy could dramatically change how resistance is managed, helping to preserve antibiotic efficacy for future patients and reducing unnecessary exposure to broad-spectrum drugs.
Voices from the Viseu roundtable
Manuela Caniça, head of the National Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, reminded participants that the United Nations has recognised the benefits of investing in diagnostics, vaccines, and other alternatives to antibiotics. She stressed that health security requires global solidarity and a concerted effort to ensure rapid, affordable diagnostic capacity is available to all populations, including those in lower- and middle-income countries.
Patrícia Poeta, leader of the MicroART group on Antibiotic Resistance, framed resistance as a core One Health challenge affecting people, animals, and the environment. She warned that without integrated, interdisciplinary strategies, progress could stall and health systems might face a serious setback. Poeta pledged to share cross-disciplinary approaches in Viseu to strengthen coordinated action against this global threat.
Joana Lemos, internal medicine coordinator at CUF, spoke about the daily realities of antimicrobial resistance in clinical practice, linking it to longer hospital stays and higher mortality. She called for continued investment in health literacy, rational antibiotic use, and the development of new medicines alongside rapid, accurate diagnostics that detect both infections and resistance patterns.
Sílvio Santos, associate director at the University of Minho’s Bacteriophage Biotechnology Lab, noted that antibiotic resistance remains a leading global killer and warned that new solutions are essential. He highlighted the potential of bacteriophages and other innovative strategies in combatting multi-drug resistant infections and will address these avenues at the Viseu event.
Looking ahead
With ALS at the helm—an organization rooted in Tondela and renowned for its technical and laboratory services across life sciences, mining, and energy—the initiative signals a future where validated, affordable diagnostics become standard tools in human and veterinary medicine. The project aspires to ensure equitable access to advanced diagnostic technologies and to accelerate the discovery of new antibiotics and complementary diagnostic tools capable of keeping pace with evolving resistance patterns.
