The key element of this system are the sensors that the device incorporates, developed by the Interfibio research group, of the URV's Department of Chemical Engineering, since they allow to know - instantaneously - the possible contamination of the environment through the analysis of eight bacteria that transmit diseases such as bubonic plague, anthrax, Q fever, brucellosis, melioidosis, distemper or tularemia.
These sensors analyze the air for B pathogens (agents that can potentially be used for bioterrorism), especially the Brucella and Bacillus antracis species , in line with international guidelines for infectious diseases and biological defense. The sensor performs the analysis of all bacteria simultaneously, to which many others could be added, according to the head of the Interfibio research group, ICREA researcher Ciara O'Sullivan, and the group's research director, Mayreli Ortíz .
The device, the result of the European research project Multisense Chip, has already been successfully tested a few weeks ago in Germany and France, and can be used to deal with possible episodes of bacteriological contamination of the air. The German army and the French firefighters participated in a simulated alarm of a biological attack that has demonstrated the good results of the Multisense Chip project.
A portable and automated laboratory
The device that emerged from the Multisense Chip project performs a constant and automatic analysis, without the need for a laboratory or specialized personnel. For this reason, it has been defined as a “laboratory on a chip”.
The detection process begins with the collection of the sample, which is transferred to the chip, where the biological reactions are generated and, finally, the two detection reactions occur. The samples that the system can work with are collected from the air, or they can be solid samples, such as powder, or liquid samples, such as drinks and water.
Detection is based on simultaneous analysis using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunological methods. Finally, the samples are read by electrochemical techniques.
Quick results, preventive action
In the laboratory this process is usually laborious; On the other hand, with the developed device, the results are obtained in just a few minutes, with a system known as sample in, result out ('sample in, result out'). This means that the current time for processing for microbiological detection is significantly reduced, a relevant factor to be able to act in urgent cases.
In addition, the sensors are very sensitive and can detect very low levels of concentration of the bacteria. For this reason, the system can be useful for the first responders to intervene in cases of biological attacks and quickly obtain information on possible contaminants. The authorities, for their part, will be able to take the most appropriate measures in the face of an alarm or risk of an epidemic.
In fact, according to the researchers, in the future, these devices could be installed in crowded spaces, such as soccer fields, airports or train stations, in order to minimize the risk of the contagion spreading in the event of air pollution.
Finding contaminants in the blood
The sensors created at the URV are also used to analyze the blood and detect if a person is infected with any of these pathogens and to what extent, in order to be able to know the medicine that should be administered and in what quantity.
It is a system that could also be used in the medical environment, as it makes it possible to have results quickly, even with very low levels of infection. These characteristics represent an advance in the improvement of medical emergency services, which will be able to intervene in time and offer the most appropriate diagnosis.
Multisense Chip is a project of the VII framework program of the European Union that has had a cost of 8.7 million euros, of which the EU has funded 6.6. Eight international institutions and companies participated in the research, such as Rovira i Virgili University, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH (Germany), Bertin Technologies (France), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (Germany), iMicroQ (Tarragona), Fraunhofer ICT-IMM ( Germany), Institute of Microbial Sciences and Technologies Biology (Slovenia) and Cedralis (France).
No comments:
Post a Comment