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

这个小企业创新研究一期项目研究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。目前用于检测空气传染性的方法，例如受生物战剂或其他病原体污染的空气，不能直接检测空气中的病原体。气溶胶样品通常转化为液体样品，例如，使用湿旋风，其中基于聚合酶链反应或免疫测定的分析意味着较长的分析时间。第一阶段的研究将证明直接在空气中进行样品制备和高度特异性病原体鉴定的可行性，而无需将样品引入液体。该研究将有助于开发基于收集和/或检测呼出或咳嗽中的病原体的诊断方法，快速确定环境中空气传染性的方法，例如受生物战剂污染的环境和即时诊断方法。第二阶段的研究将全面开发一种可销售的原型，该原型具有许多潜在的医疗应用，以及从农业和农业的法医分析和空气质量监测到便携式野外设备中的生物战剂探测等应用。

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.