Proof of concept electrochemical sensor as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the presence fungal pathogens

壶菌是一组真菌的名称，它们能够感染两栖动物，并对青蛙等两栖动物造成重大伤害。这种真菌可以通过直接接触从两栖动物传播到两栖动物，或者壶菌可以在环境（如水中）中存活，在那里它可以被捡起并引起感染。在感染壶菌后，两栖动物会变得嗜睡、少吃、游泳能力差和皮肤不适，并可能导致死亡。壶菌导致了至少501种两栖动物物种的减少，其中90种已确认或推定在野外灭绝，另有124种物种的丰度减少了90%以上，这标志着可归因于病原体的最大生物多样性损失。壶菌现在在全球范围内广泛存在于野外，因此，人们已经制定了一些策略来拯救壶菌的数量，这些策略使用的是在严格的条件下保存的箱（罐），以使两栖动物茁壮成长，同时使它们免受感染。为了确保成功，那些试图拯救两栖动物的人必须能够检测到壶菌的存在，并制定计划来保护两栖动物免受感染。目前，现有的检测方法需要复杂的设备、专门的培训，而且可能昂贵且耗时。为了确保研究人员和环保人士在与壶菌的斗争中有充分的装备，需要一种更有效、更便宜的检测方法。作为壶菌生命周期的一部分，细胞产生“挥发性有机化合物”——这些化合物可以通过气味被注意到。每种真菌都能产生它们，但每种真菌可能产生不同的化合物选择，这意味着壶菌产生的特定化合物可能是独一无二的。在这个项目中，我们将测量由壶菌产生的化合物，以发现这种独特的化合物模式，然后使用先进的工程技术来了解我们是否可以检测和测量这些特征化合物（这将推断壶菌的存在），使用一种廉价、易于使用、可重复和即时的传感器技术，即丝网印刷电化学。通过该项目开发的诊断工具将有助于保护工作，以维持健康的两栖动物种群。这也将有助于更好地了解和对抗壶菌感染。

Chytrid is the name given to a group of fungi that are capable of infecting and causing significant harm to amphibians such as frogs. The fungi can pass from amphibian-to-amphibian by direct contact or Chytrid can survive in the environment (such as in water) where it can be picked up and cause an infection. Following infection from Chytrid, amphibians can become lethargic, eat less, display poor swimming ability and skin complaints, and can result in death. Chytrid has been responsible for the decline of at least 501 amphibian species, with 90 species confirmed or presumed extinct in the wild and a further 124 species experiencing a reduction of over 90% abundance, signifying the greatest loss of biodiversity attributable to a pathogen. Chytrid is now widespread in the wild across the globe, and as such, strategies have been developed to save populations using chambers (tanks) that are kept under strict conditions to allow the amphibians to thrive whilst keeping them free of infection. To ensure this is successful, it is essential those trying to save the amphibians can detect the presence of Chytrid and enact plans to keep the amphibians safe from infection. Currently, existing methods of detection require complex equipment, specialised training, and can be expensive and time consuming. To ensure researchers and conservationists are well equipped in the fight against Chytrid, a more efficient and cheaper detection method is required.As part of the life cycle of Chytrid, cells produce 'volatile organic compounds' - these compounds can be noted by smell. Each species of fungi can produce them, but each species is likely to produce different selections of compounds, meaning the particular compounds produced by Chytrid are likely unique. In this project we will measure the compounds produced by Chytrid to discover this unique pattern of compounds, and then use advanced engineering techniques to understand if we can detect and measure these signature compounds (which would infer the presence of Chytrid) using a cheap, easy-to-use, reproducible and instant sensor technology known as screen-printed electrochemistry.The diagnostic tool being developed through this project will aid conservation efforts to sustain healthy amphibian populations. It will also contribute to better understanding and combating Chytrid infections.