On-Site Multiplexed GMO Detector to Facilitate Traceability

描述(申请人提供)：转基因作物和其他食品被广泛使用，因为它们提高了生产力，改善了营养，减少了农用化学品的使用，以及其他好处。然而，由于未知的健康风险以及许多社会经济问题，使用它们是有争议的。因此，已经出台了管理转基因生物(GMO)释放的立法，并要求食品和饲料具有完全可追溯性。这导致了美国对检测转基因特征存在的新技术的需求不断增加。在一个以规模、速度和效率为目标的系统中，这是具有挑战性的。我们提出了一种同时检测多个转基因性状的新方法。建议的方法结合了便携式生物传感器进行多分析测量，以及基于纳米技术的检测系统，提供高信号放大和在环境温度下的良好稳定性。该系统专为食品和饲料筛选而设计，以确定是否存在转基因材料、转基因材料的类型和含量(%)，并将对产品可追溯性、“身份保存”(IP)系统和消费者的健康选择产生重大影响。该系统满足了对便携式、多分析、定量设备的需求，用于这些领域的快速现场或现场应用，符合要求，需要在从生产到交付的多个阶段进行严格的分析测试。该生物传感器还将用于检测饲喂转基因饲料的动物的牛奶和肉类中的转基因蛋白质，以及种植转基因作物的土壤中的转基因蛋白质。第一阶段的具体目的是证明我们的系统同时检测两种常见的转基因玉米蛋白的可行性，通过将其性能与基于实验室的测试进行比较来验证该检测方法，并展示基于纳米技术的检测系统的优势。第一阶段计划将提供一个概念验证系统，该系统将在第二阶段开发成便携式原型系统。现场快速筛选转基因产品的可靠、便携、定量的方法将对简化可追溯性和知识产权、确保合规性和阻止食品和饲料行业的欺诈(未经授权的转基因)产生重大影响。转基因食品市场是一个价值数十亿美元的行业，有一个绝佳的机会为我们的技术创造一个利基市场，这比目前的方法更具优势。EIC通过内部制造、销售化验、手持化验读取器和仪器，以及对外授权我们的多分析免疫分析技术，为这项技术提供了一条商业道路。 公共卫生相关性：该项目寻求开发一种改进的方法来快速识别食品中的转基因生物(GMO)。该方法将能够以便携形式同时对多个转基因生物进行快速现场检测，并将对提高食品安全和控制转基因材料的流动产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Genetically modified (GM) crops and other foods are widely used because of their increased productivity, improved nutrition, reduced use of agriculture chemicals, and other benefits. Their use is controversial, however, due to the unknown health risks, as well as many socio-economic concerns. Legislations regulating the release of GM organisms (GMOs) have therefore been introduced, and full traceability for food and feed is required. This has resulted in an increasing demand in the USA for new technologies to test for the presence of GM traits. This is challenging in a system built for scale, speed and efficiency. We propose to develop a novel method for the simultaneous detection of multiple GM traits. The proposed method combines a portable biosensor that performs multianalyte measurement, together with a nanotechnology-based detection system that provides high signal amplification with good stability at ambient temperatures. The system is designed for food and feed screening to determine if GM material is present, the type of GM, and how much (%), and will have significant impact on product traceability, "Identity Preservation" (IP) systems, and consumers health choices. The system addresses the need for portable, multianalyte, quantitative devices for rapid on-site or field applications in these areas, which to be compliant, require rigorous analytical testing at multiple stages from production to delivery. The biosensor will also have use in detecting GM proteins in the milk and meat of animals fed GM feed, and in soil used to grow GM crops. The specific aims of the Phase I are to demonstrate the feasibility of our system to simultaneously measure two common GM corn proteins, validate the assay by comparing its performance to lab-based tests, and demonstrate the advantages of the nanotechnology-based detection system. The Phase I program will provide a proof-of-concept system that will be developed in Phase II into a prototype portable system. Robust, portable, quantitative methods for rapidly screening GM product onsite will have a significant impact in streamlining traceability and IP, ensuring compliance, and discouraging fraud (unauthorized GMs) in the food and feed industry. The GM food market is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there is an excellent opportunity to create a niche for our technology, which has advantages over current methods. EIC has a commercial path for this technology through in-house manufacturing, sale of assays, hand- held assay readers and instruments, and out-licensing of our multianalyte immunoassay technology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project seeks to develop an improved method for rapidly identifying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food. The method will enable rapid onsite testing for multiple GMOs at the same time in a portable format, and will have significant impact on improving food safety and controlling the movement of GM material.