Public Title Systems Engineering for Microscale Biodetection of Foodborne Pathogens Division Lead Inventor Ladisch, Michael Public Description Background: Listeria monocytogenes causes millions of cases of food poisoning. It has emerged as one of the most important food pathogens and is subject to a USDA-mandated zero tolerance standard in ready-to-eat meats and dairy foods. Listeria is prevalent throughout the food-processing environment and is resistant to high heat, low pH, high salt, and can grow at refrigerated temperatures. Food safety requires its rapid detection so that product containing this bacterium can be intercepted and destroyed before it reaches the consumer. The food-processing industry annually carries out at least 24 million tests for detection of food pathogens at $8-$10 per test. These tests require two to seven days to complete since the cells must be cultured to increase their population or genetic material to detectable levels. This time-period is too long for real-time detection of the pathogens and is sufficient for a contaminated food to be packaged, distributed, and eaten. Description: The goal is to develop and commercialize biochemical microchips to enable rapid detection of bacteria directly from foods based on measurement of the presence of individual microbes through electronic detection of their binding with antibodies on the surface of the chip. Advantages: This new technology could reduce test times from days to minutes. Patent Status Public References Key Words ,Biotechnology/Toxin & pathogen detection Manager Joseph Trebley Email jptrebley@prf.org Telephone Fax 765-496-1277   Back to List