Detection of Legionella pneumophila using aptamer-coated nanoparticles.

嗜肺军团菌是军团病的病原体，军团病是一种人类急性肺部感染。每年都会发生几次大规模的霍乱爆发，每次都影响到数百人，并导致约10%的受影响人口死亡。例如，2012年魁北克市爆发的疫情导致183例病例和13例死亡。嗜肺乳杆菌生长在水系统中，通过吸入气溶胶传染给人类。为防止军团病暴发，必须对水系统进行充分管理，并在其中发现嗜肺乳杆菌时采取适当行动。目前可用的检测方法耗时长，需要专业的技术技能。我们建议开发一种新的检测方法，该方法基于包裹有嗜肺乳杆菌特异性识别分子的纳米颗粒，称为适体。为此，我们将评估该方法与不同菌株的嗜肺乳杆菌的性能，并确定其与水系统中常见的其他微生物的交叉反应性。最后，我们将采用这种方法与现有的便携式比色检测平台。该项目将开发一种新的便携式、易于使用和具有成本效益的方法，用于对供水系统进行常规监测，这将有助于减少军团病的风险和负担。

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, an acute pulmonary infection in humans. Several large outbreaks of LD occur every year, each one affecting hundreds of people and resulting in the death of about 10% of the affected population. For example, the Quebec City outbreak in 2012 resulted in 183 cases and 13 deaths. L. pneumophila grows in water systems and is transmitted to human by inhalation of aerosols. To prevent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease it is imperative to manage water systems adequately and take appropriate action when L. pneumophila is detected in them. The current available detection methods are time consuming and require expert technical skills. We are proposing to develop a novel detection method based on nanoparticles coated with L. pneumophila-specific recognition molecules called aptamers. To do so, we will evaluate the performance of this method with different strains of L. pneumophila and determine its cross reactivity with other microbes typically found in water systems. Finally, we will adapt this approach with an existing portable colorimetric detection platform. This project will develop a new portable, easy to use, and cost-effective method for routine monitoring of water systems that will help reduce the risk and burden of Legionnaires' disease.