Field based molecular diagnostics for identification of plant parasitic nematodes

线虫是许多农业和商业种植植物的重要经济害虫。我们已经证明了“概念验证”，植物寄生线虫可以通过使用MALDI-TOF质谱的蛋白质分析来识别。 在这个项目中，先进的蛋白质组学和相关的生物信息学技术将被用来识别，分离和纯化蛋白质，特异性的经济上重要的线虫物种和种族，并确定诊断蛋白质或表位。 诊断蛋白将用于产生特异性单克隆抗体，这些抗体将被纳入免疫化学“侧向流”装置中。 这些将提供现场测试，以确定线虫的种植者和检疫服务。

Nematodes are economically important pests of many agricultural and commercially grown plants. We have shown 'proof-of-concept' that plant parasitic nematodes can be identified by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. In this project advanced techniques of proteomics and associated bioinformatics will be used to identify, isolate and characterise proteins that are specific to economically important nematode species and races, and to identify diagnostic proteins or epitopes. The diagnostic proteins will be used to generate specific monoclonal antibodies that will be incorporated into immunochemical 'Lateral Flow' devices. These will provide on-site tests to identify nematodes for growers and quarantine services.