Authors:
Shin Horikawa
;
Yating Chai
;
Howard C. Wikle
;
James M. Barbaree
and
Bryan A. Chin
Affiliation:
Auburn University, United States
Keyword(s):
Direct Detection, Bacteria, Fresh Produce, Magnetoelastic Biosensor, Phage, Surface-Scanning Detector.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Emerging Technologies
;
Hardware
;
MEMS
;
Nanotechnologies
;
Sensor Networks
;
Telecommunications
;
Wireless and Mobile Technologies
;
Wireless Information Networks and Systems
Abstract:
This paper presents a revolutionary method of bacterial detection that directly detects and quantifies the presence of specific bacteria on the surfaces of fresh produce without sample preparation (water rinse, soak, stomaching) and/or enrichment. The speed of detection is from 2 to 10 minutes with a limit of detection in a range of 10^2 to 10^4 cfu/mm^2. The specificity of detection is 2 in 10^6 background bacteria. This technology was awarded a $20,000 prize in the first United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Challenge. The method combines wireless magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors and a surface-scanning detector for rapid determination of bacterial contamination. Tests were conducted on tomatoes and grapes spiked with different concentrations of Salmonella Typhimurium. The resonant frequency changes of the biosensors were found to be dependent on the surface concentration of Salmonella. Detection limits were found to be affected by the surface roughness of the f
ood. A 90-second video of a test for Salmonella on tomato can be viewed at http://eng.auburn.edu/food-safety. The method presented in this paper is envisioned for use at ports of entry for the swift screening of foods.
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