Novel Biosensor Technologies for Detection and High Throughput Screening of Pathogens and Toxins

Current pathogen detection trend emphasizes the application of single sensor platform for detection of multiple pathogens/toxins in a cost effective manner. Our research team is currently developing high throughput nano/biosensor-based screening tools such as the fiber optic, cell-based and light scattering for detection of multi-pathogens and toxins from food. Cell-based sensor determines pathogenic potential and is suitable for confirmation of pathogenic potential of test organisms or toxins present in a sample while light scattering sensor is a label-free method for real-time detection and identification of bacterial colonies. Pathogen-specific sensor platform such as fiber-optic sensor is developed employing pathogen-specific probes such as receptors, antibodies and aptamers while the light scattering sensor can be used for high throughput screening of bacterial colonies for pathogens, indicator microbes and antibiotic induced stress. Limit of detection, specificity, automation and application of each sensor with various sample matrices will be discussed.