SBIR Phase I: Novel Pathogen Detector for (Bio)aerosols

0339751这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目提出了一种全新的方法来识别生物气溶胶中的病原体，该方法基于直接在空气中进行和控制生化反应和微生物相互作用。目前测试空气传染性的方法，例如，受生物战剂或其他病原体污染的空气中的病原体不能直接检测。气溶胶样品通常被转换成液体样品，例如，使用湿旋风分离器，其中基于PCR或免疫测定的分析意味着长的分析时间。第一阶段研究将证明直接在空气中进行样品制备和高度特异性鉴定病原体的可行性，而无需将样品引入液体中。该研究将有助于开发基于收集和/或检测呼气或咳嗽中的病原体的诊断方法，以及快速确定环境中空气传染性的方法，例如，被生物战剂和即时诊断方法污染。第二阶段的研究将提供一个可销售的原型的全面开发，具有一些潜在的医疗应用以及从法医分析和农业中的空气质量监测到便携式现场设备中生物战剂的检测等应用。

0339751This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses an entirely new approach to identification of pathogens in bio-aerosols based on performing and controlling biochemical reactions and microbiological interactions directly in air. Current methods for testing infectiousness of air, e.g., contaminated by biological warfare agents or other pathogens do not provide direct detection of pathogens in air. Aerosol samples are usually converted into a liquid sample, e.g., using wet cyclones, where analysis based on PCR or immunoassays implies long analysis time. Phase I research will demonstrate feasibility of performing sample preparation and highly specific identification of pathogens directly in air without introducing the sample into liquid.The research will aid in developing diagnostic methods that are based on collecting and/or detecting pathogens in breath exhaled or cough, methods to rapidly determine infectiousness of air in an environment, e.g., contaminated by biological warfare agents and point-of-care diagnosticmethods.. The Phase II research will provide full development of a marketable prototype with a number of potential medical applications as well as applications ranging from forensic analysis and air-quality monitoring in farming and agriculture to detection of biological warfare agents in portable field devices.