Integrating enzymes, mediators and nanostructures to provide bio-powered bio-electrochemical sensing systems

Acronym: BioMedNANO

Starting Date: 01.07.2006

Sixth Framework Programme, Contract Number: 017350

This BIO-MEDNANO STREP-project focuses on research at the frontiers of knowledge of enzymes, mediators, surfaces and immobilisation strategies aimed at improving enzymatic electron transfer reactions for application towards integrated bio-powered biosensing systems for diagnosis and healthcare. Such improvements will be provided by: screening for novel enzymes; modification of enzymes; design of novel nano-structured scaffolds for enzyme immobilisation, to provide devices with improved stability and electron transfer efficiency (sensitivity and/or power output).The long-term innovation of the project is to generate profound, molecular level knowledge on the electron transfer processes taking place between biological molecules and nanostructured electrochemically active materials and further apply this knowledge to integrated bio-powered biosensing systems, which can be exploited in the area of diagnosis and healthcare.

Rapid biotechniques based on imunosensors for in-siu detection of legionella in indrustial and environmental water samples

Acronym: IMMUNOLEGIO

Starting Date: 01.10.2006

Sixth Framework Programme, Contract Number: 032169

Legionella pneumonia is found in aquatic habitats, especially in potable water systems, cooling tower systems, heat exchanger systems. Human infections occurs through the inhalation of aerosols contaminated by Legionella spp. An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people are stricken with Legionnaries disease in EU-15 alone each year. Up to 30% of people who have Legionnaries disease die. The conventional method for detection of Legionella is a complicated procedure involving isolation in a selective medium. However, this method presents several problems, including the presence of viable but nonculturable pathogens, loss of viability after colletion and the long time required for culture and confirmation, which takes several days. In addition, detection is more difficult, since Legionella can be inhibited and masked by the rapid abundant growth of other microorganisms. In order to avoid the problems encountered with the conventional analysis method, an alternative method for rapidly detecting Legionella with high sensitivity is needed. The aim of the proposed project is to develop new bioanalytical instruments in order to arrive at analytical tool for the in-situ detection of Legionella by a rapid and low cost assay. The main objective is to develop a magnetoresistive biosensor device employing magnetic particles as biological markers, which allow for real time measurements in order to achieve a detection limit of 50 CFU L . It will ensure that the Immunolegio device passes the strict thresold level regulation fixed at 100 CFU L and enabling a complete analysis in a total test time of 30 minutes, whith a minimal enrichment stage.

A rapid hand-held analyser for control of microorganisms in the complete meat supply chain

Acronym: BugCheck

Starting Date: 01.07.2006 Duration: 2.5 year

Sixth Framework Programme, Contract Number: 17969

Foodborne pathogens in processed ready-to-eat products pose a serious threat to consumers with compromised immune system. Sensitive, specific and rapid detection of such pathogens is thus essential at production level to prevent their entrance into the human food chain.

Conventional microbiological detection methods simply take too long (2 to 7 days) to detect and identify pathogens in food and no real time data is available. Other traditional testing methods, such as ELISA, are also relatively costly and time-consuming. Traditional methods require the taking of a product sample, its posterior culturing until sufficient microorganisms have been generated to enable ready detection on culture plates. While a number of methods such as PCR may provide faster detection (6-12 hours) they involve complex procedures and highly specialised trained personnel.

In today^,s modern food supply chain, products enter and leave the market within two to three days. Slow traditional analytical methods are clearly deficient as they enable contaminated meat products to reach the market, resulting in human disease and even mortality. Moreover, most analyses need to be carried out in large analytical laboratories as the required instrumentation is expensive and requires highly qualified staff. Only very large farms and slaughterhouses can thus afford to perform regular, on-site, microbiological checks.

There is a clear need for a rapid, handheld, easy to use and cost effective microbiological analyser which is tailored and well suited to the needs of the meat industry to enable its use on the processing floor thus allowing rapid process control testing.
A biosensor based approach presents a promising and sensitive alternative tool for the detection of low numbers of cells in a question of minutes (with no need for enrichment steps) as opposed to days. Electrochemical methods would also enable the application of more user friendly and cheaper instrumentation.

Inteligent biosensor system for environmental detection of pesticides and herbicides

Acronym: IBIS

Starting Date: 05.08.2004 End Date: 31.12.2007

Ministry of Industry and Trade \of The Czech Republic, Contract Number: FT-TA/089

Basic research of correlations between output signal of organophosphate pesticides and photosyntetic herbicides detecting biosensors and classical analytical methods. The basic research of factors which stimulate the toxicity of organophosphate pesticides and photosyntetic herbicides. The factors which suppress the organophosphate pesticides and photosyntetic herbicides action will be studied too. The measurement with organophosphate pesticides and photosyntetic herbicides detecting biosensors will be standardized. The prototype of analyzer measuring toxicity will be developed.

Ecological refrigeration

Acronym: ECOFRIDGE

Starting Date: 01.08.2003 Duration: 2 year

Fifth Framework Programme, Contract Number:G1ST-CT-2002-50305

Throughout the EU small producers and specialist producers of chilled produce could increase their market share and have greater access to larger and more diverse markets, if they could deliver direct to consumers without the risk of spoilage and without incurring the high costs of refrigerated vehicles. A delivery system that is not based on the use of refrigerated transport is cost effective, more energy efficient and more environmentally sound, particularly if the packaging is reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable. The objective of the ECOFRIDGE project was to develop a chilled food delivery environment that does not rely on refrigerated transport and could be used by normal delivery and courier services. The novel product uses ecologically sound components, alongside a decision support tool that will enable the user to ensure best packaging strategies, for different amounts of food, delivery duration, food type, box size and ambient temperatures. An overall life cycle management approach utilising electronic packaging tags & tag readers/writes will enables the package to be a safe, fully verifiable, thermally efficient, environmentally sound, innovative, reliable delivery system.