TEST FOR VEROTOXIC E COLI TO PREVENT FOODBORNE INFECTION

食源性毒性大肠杆菌感染的发生率为100%。大肠杆菌（VTEC） 在过去十年中， 数百万人的健康。 快速、准确、灵敏 检测食物和动物中的VTEC对控制 疾病 Montana ImmunoTech已经证明了使用 免疫磁性分离技术，在一次测试中， 并从肉类中鉴定出verotoxic VTEC。 测试快速（3-6小时） 并且具有每克100至1000 VTEC的检测水平。 第二阶段SBIR项目是通过（a）开发和 增强检测VTEC特异性抗原的检测试剂 和（B）开发用于自动化检测因子的检测测定法， 比色法 具体地，针对O体细胞的抗体的制剂 抗原和VTEC特异性细胞表面和verotoxin粘附素将被 用于增强VTEC生物体和verotoxins的捕获， 收获和收获后的肉、废水和粪便标本。 使用原型测定试剂盒检测VTEC的方案 牛的收获前和收获后标本将在 牛群和屠宰场的田间条件。 麻省理工学院正在 有两家诊断公司对商业化感兴趣 建议的商业应用 第二阶段SBIR需要完善的技术/产品具有 在食品工业、医疗和工业领域的全球应用潜力 兽医界，以及有关的监管机构， 水质. VTEC诊断分析的市场估计 每年花费3亿美元， 有效降低VTEC引起的牙周病的发病率。 两家主要的诊断公司正在探索许可证作为诊断 比色法

The incidence of food-borne infections with verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC) has increased significantly over the past decade and threatens the health of millions of persons. The rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection of VTEC in food and animals is paramount to the control of the disease. Montana ImmunoTech has demonstrated the feasibility of using immunomagnetic separation technology that, in a single test, captures and identifies verotoxic VTEC from meat. The test is rapid (3-6 hours) and has a detection level of 100 to 1000 VTEC per gram. The aims of the Phase II SBIR project is to perfect the assay by (a) developing and testing reagents that enhance the detection VTEC-specific antigenic factors and (b) developing a detection assay for automation of the assay. Specifically, formulations of antibodies against O somatic antigens and VTEC-specific cell surface and verotoxin adhesins will be employed to enhance capture of VTEC organisms and verotoxins from pre- harvest and post-harvest meat, waste water and fecal specimens. Protocols for the use of a prototype assay kit in detecting VTEC in both pre- and post-harvest specimens from cattle will be evaluated under field conditions in cattle herds and slaughterhouses. MIT is working with two diagnostic firms interested in commercialization. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION The technology/product to be perfected in the Phase II SBIR has the potential for worldwide applications in the food industry, medical and veterinary community, as well as regulatory agencies concerned with water quality. The market for the VTEC diagnostic assay is estimated at 300 million dollars annually and the uses of the assay will effectively diminish the incidence of diarrheal diseases caused by VTEC. Two major diagnostic firms are exploring licensing as a diagnostic assay.