IDR/Collaborative Research: Magnetic Beads Linked Immunoassay Meets Micro Coulter Counter: Novel Multiplexed Biosensor System for Food Safety

本跨学科研究（IDR）合作项目的研究目标是研究一种新型的工具/设备，用于快速，灵敏和同时检测食品中的主要致病菌。采用磁珠联免疫分析结合微库仑计数技术，实现食品中多种致病菌的同时检测，具有较高的特异性和灵敏度。许多新的功能，跨生物，微，和传感技术被引入到所提出的系统。具体来说，该提案将开发一种简单实用的传感器，用于检测美国最重要的食源性病原体（例如：沙门氏菌、弯曲杆菌和肠出血性大肠杆菌O 157：H7）。该项目的方法一旦优化，就有可能应用于检测各种其他目标，如病毒、毒素和疾病相关的生物标志物。如果成功，这项研究的好处将包括改善食品和水安全，这将导致有效的监测和实施国土安全，并加强公共卫生。此外，拟议的项目为参与研究的本科生和研究生提供了一个真正的多学科培训基地。研究的多学科性质有助于在技术和非技术期刊上以及通过外联活动传播信息。该奖项包括全年的本科生研究项目，利用NSF REU补充计划，康州大学工程学院的达芬奇芬奇项目（一个旨在将基本工程概念融入小学后课堂的项目），康州大学的E2 K计划，以加强K-12教育，麻省大学洛厄尔分校的妇女在科学和工程计划，以提高少数民族女学生的参与，和活动在Homeschoolers日。

The research objective of this Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) collaborative project is to research a novel tool/device for rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of major pathogenic bacteria in foods. The approach taken will be magnetic beads-linked immunoassays combined with micro coulter counting technique to achieve simultaneous detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria in foods with high specificity and sensitivity. A number of novel features across bio-, micro-, and sensing technologies are introduced to the proposed system. Specifically this proposal will develop a simple and practical sensor for detecting the most significant food-borne pathogens in the United States (eg. Salmonella, Campylobacter and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7) in chicken and ground beef. The project's method, once optimized, can potentially be applied for detecting a wide range of other targets such as viruses, toxins, and disease-related biomarkers. If successful, the benefits of this research will include improved food and water safety, which will lead to efficient monitoring and implementation of homeland security, and enhanced public health. In addition, the proposed project offers a truly multidisciplinary training ground for the undergraduate and graduate students involved in the research. The multidisciplinary nature of the research lends itself to dissemination of information in technical as well as non-technical journals and through outreach activities. The award includes year-round undergraduate research projects, utilizing the NSF REU supplement program, UConn's School of Engineering's Da Vinci project (a project geared toward the integration of basic engineering concepts into the post-elementary school classroom), UConn's E2K program to enhance K-12 education, UMass-Lowell's Women in Sciences and Engineering program to uplift the involvement of female minority students, and activities in Homeschoolers Day.