SBIR Phase I: FRET-Aptamer Tests for Treated Wastewater

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目建议进一步开发其一步荧光共振能量转移(FRET)-DNA适配子技术，用于快速(采样后几分钟内的分析结果)、灵敏、现场检测经处理的供水中的粪便细菌。运营技术公司(Optech)此前展示了成功开发出FRET-适配子，它能结合各种菌株表面分子的共同核心抗原，并使用FRET-适配子初步家族通过商用现成(COTS)手持和电池供电的荧光传感器检测到每毫升水样中低至10个细菌。这项技术正在开发中，以满足联邦海滩法案的严格要求，但现在被提议作为一种更广泛的解决方案，用于经处理的废水的安全验证。为了满足这一新要求，Optech将为手持阅读器增加一项荧光生存测试，并与标准的Colilert荧光测试结果进行比较。在第二阶段，Optech将扩大其检测范围，将其他肠道细菌、病毒和寄生虫包括在内。这项研究的更广泛影响是：1)提高了公众的饮用水安全；2)废水处理设施更好地现场决策能力，以确定处理后的污水是否适合饮用、灌溉或释放回环境；3)在娱乐水域(海洋、湖泊，甚至游泳池)，关于潜在关闭的决策能力更快，以防止人类暴露在粪便污染中。FRET-适配子技术还应用于快速和便携式食品安全检测、国土安全和临床护理点诊断。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to further develop its one-step fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-DNA aptamer technology for the rapid (assay results within minutes of sampling), sensitive, on-site detection of fecal bacteria in treated water supplies. Operational Technologies Corporation (OpTech) previously demonstrated successful development of FRET-aptamers that bind common core antigens of surface molecules from various strains of E. coli and used the preliminary family of FRET-aptamers to detect as few as 10 bacteria per milliliter in water samples with a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)handheld and battery-operated fluorescence sensor. The technology was in development to satisfy stringent requirements of the federal Beaches Act, but is now proposed as a broader solution for safety verification of treated wastewater. In order to meet this new requirement, OpTech will add a fluorescence viability test for the handheld reader and compare to standard Colilert fluorescence test results. In Phase II, OpTech will expand its repertoire of tests to include other enteric bacteria, viruses, and parasites.The broader impacts of this research are: 1) enhanced drinking water safety for the public 2)better on-site decision making ability for wastewater treatment facilities to decide if treated effluents are suitable for drinking, irrigation, or release back into the environment, 3) faster decision making ability at recreational waters (oceans, lakes, even swimming pools) with regard to potential closings to prevent human exposure to fecal contamination. FRET-aptamer technology also has applications in rapid and portable food safety testing, homeland security, and clinical point-of-care diagnostics.