Robotic selection of DNA aptamers to powdery mildew

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Powdery mildew, also known as oidium, is caused by the fungus Uncinula necator. This fungus has a narrow host range attacking only grape plants and a few related species. It is the most common and widespread disease of grapevines in the Okanagan/Similkameen area of British Columbia in Canada. It is, without a doubt, the most enduring and persistent disease problem faced by grape producers. In this proposal, Berezovski's lab and Flex Alert Company will develop DNA aptamers for powdery mildew using a robot platform. Aptamers are specific nucleic acid sequences that can bind to a wide range of targets with high affinity and specificity. They can be chemically modified and incorporated into a variety of simple assays for pathogen detection, including flow cytometry, cell imaging, and aptasensors. The developed aptamers can be applied in low cost biosensors for smart food packaging, for detecting pathogens in perishable fruits and wine production. The sensor technology is based on the deposition of aptamers on plastic films with a connection to a wireless network, which allows the monitoring, tracking through the use of mobile networking and smart phones.