ANYL 29 |
| We are developing a portable bread-board instrument and the associated protocols creating a system for the detection of pathogens in food products. Existing detection techniques are not adequate to allow for the timely detection of pathogenic microorganisms in the food supply but more importantly require significant operator assistance. The instrument that we have developed has automatic fluid and thermal control as well as integrated fluorescence detection all incorporated into a desktop platform. Homogenous detection of target is accomplished in ‘real-time' by continuously monitoring the fluorescence during PCR using the DNA binding dye SYBR Green or alternatively the TaqMan 5' nuclease system the latter of which will allow multiple target (and internal control) integration. Nucleic acid purification and PCR amplification/detection have been combined and optimized into a single monolithic silicon microchip in addition to magnetic bead capture in a separate but linked region of the chip. Optical detection is being advanced to eventually incorporate the simultaneous detection of multiple emission wavelengths. Detection levels of less than 102 Bacillus anthracis cells are being routinely obtained with a total detection time of under one hour. The robust nature of this system has been demonstrated by the development of detection systems for Leishmania, Staphylococcus, Listeria and other target pathogens. |
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Detection of Process-Induced Contaminants and Biohazards in Foods
1:30 PM-4:50 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 124, Oral
Division of Analytical Chemistry |