Real time detection and management antibiotic residues in milk

抗菌药物，如抗生素，在农业中广泛用于治疗由微生物引起的一系列疾病。在奶牛场，被抗微生物残留物污染的牛奶很有可能会污染大储罐，从而污染用于商业用途的牛奶。受污染的牛奶不能再销售，导致整个供应链遭受巨大的经济损失。此外，受污染的牛奶被处理在环境中，分散抗菌素，并可能加速抗菌素耐药性的出现。目前用于筛选牛奶中抗菌素残留物的测试既昂贵又耗时，而且只能检测有限范围的残留物。此外，目前还没有一种技术可以实时监控挤奶过程，并自动防止散装储罐受到污染。通过该博士研究生项目开发的技术将通过开发用于检测抗菌残留物的智能内联传感器，彻底改变牛奶的实时监测（图1）。该项目是与西苏格兰大学合作的结果，是对农业和园艺发展委员会、苏格兰全国农民联盟和苏格兰乳品中心的讨论的回应。我们也有Graham's Family Dairy的参与，作为项目的主要合作伙伴，能够提供必要的实物支持和行业洞察力。此次合作将提供一种以行业为重点的技术，能够提高生产力，增强供应信心，降低农场和牧场的风险。该学生将专注于开发低成本的印刷传感器，结合电化学技术，创造一个完全集成的传感器和仪器，能够识别牛奶中抗菌残留物的存在。分子印迹聚合物（MIPs）将被开发并用作将抗菌残留物的存在转化为可测量、可监测的信号的基础，该信号可以启动导流阀以防止散装储罐污染。MIPs对这一应用具有吸引力，因为它们可以以低成本生产，不需要冷链存储，并且对目标分析物高度敏感。与传感器一起使用的仪器已经制成原型，制造成本不到5英镑。我们将把它与一种可消耗的传感器结合起来，生产成本不到1英镑。该项目为博士候选人提供了一个极好的发展机会，他将在研究和工业之间获得宝贵的经验。该项目的结果和成果将作为申请大型商业化资助（如innovateUK）的基础，最终提供商业解决方案。我们的合作伙伴包括西苏格兰大学，他们面向行业，拥有强大的网络，可以提供该系统的台式和农场原型。

Antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, are widely used in farming to treat a range of diseases caused by microorganisms. On dairy farms, there is a high risk that milk contaminated with antimicrobial residues contaminates the bulk storage tank and therefore milk destined for commercial use. Contaminated milk can no longer be sold resulting in large financial losses across the supply chain. Additionally, contaminated milk is disposed of in the environment, dispersing antimicrobials and potentially accelerating the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The tests currently used to screen milk for antimicrobial residues are expensive or time consuming and only detect a limited range of residues. Furthermore, no technology currently exists that can monitor milking in real time and automatically preventing contamination of the bulk tank. The technology that will be developed through this PhD studentship will revolutionise real time monitoring of milk through the development of a smart inline sensor for the detection of antimicrobial residues (figure 1).This project results from a collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland in response to discussions with the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board, National Farmers Union Scotland and the Scottish Dairy Hub. We also have the involvement of Graham's Family Dairy, as a key collaborator in the project, capable of providing essential in-kind support and industry insight. Together, this collaboration will deliver an industry focused technology with the capability to improve productivity, increase confidence of supply and reduce risk carried by farms and diaries.The studentship will focus upon the development of low cost printed sensors, combined with electrochemical techniques to create a fully integrated sensor and instrument, capable of identifying the presence of antimicrobial residues within milk. Molecularly Imprinted polymers (MIPs) will be developed and used as the basis to transduce the presence of antimicrobial residues into a measurable, monitored signal which can actuate a diversion valve to prevent bulk tank contamination. MIPs are attractive for this application because they can be produced at low cost, do not have cold chain storage requirements and are highly sensitive for the target analyte. The instrument used in conjunction with the sensor has already been prototyped and can be manufactured for under £5. We will combine this with a consumable sensor, produced for under £1. The project represents an excellent development opportunity for the PhD candidate, who will gain valuable experience at the interface between research and industry. The results and outcomes of the project will be used as a basis to apply for large commercialisation grants, such as innovateUK, ultimately to deliver commercial solutions. Our partnership includes the University of the West of Scotland, who are industry facing and have a strong network to deliver bench top and farm prototypes of the system.