A microscopic biological sensor that detects Salmonella bacteria in lab tests has been developed by an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist and university colleagues. The sensor could be adapted to detect other foodborne pathogens as well.
The sensor is part of an evolving science known as nanotechnology—the study and manipulation of materials on a molecular or even atomic level, measured in billionths of a meter, which is about 10 to100 times thinner than a human hair.
A microscopic biological sensor that can detect Salmonella bacteria--shown here in a petri dish--in lab tests has been developed by an Agricultural Research Service scientist and university colleagues.
There are examples of biosensors in nature. Insects detect tiny amounts of sex pheromones in the environment and use them as a beacon to find mates. And fish use natural biosensors to detect barely perceptible vibrations in the surrounding water.
ARS engineer Bosoon Park at the Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit in Athens, Ga., and cooperators at the University of Georgia used nanotechnology to develop the biosensor. The detection method may have great potential for food safety and security, according to Park.
The biosensors that Park and his university colleagues developed include fluorescent organic dye particles attached to Salmonella antibodies. The antibodies hook onto Salmonella bacteria and the dye lights up like a beacon, making the bacteria easier to see.
People who eat Salmonella-infected food products can get salmonellosis, a disease characterized by nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and sometimes death.
Source: Sciencedaily
4 comments:
hi, Mrs Neerali (is this right?), i would like to say it's a nice article and a nice blog too. I'm a scientist in graduation stage and my area of interest is nanotechnology.
Some months ago i started to know more about microbiology to aply in nanotechnology or viceversa.
I liked too much this article. Thanks! If we can make contact i have a blog too 10exponent-9.blogspot.com I'm from another country.
Thanks and good lucky.
Thank you for passing by and visiting my blog.I am happy to know young people like you have interest in Microbiology and Nanotechnology.Surely contact you.
Dear Dr Nirali I am a scientist at central Res Inst.for Dryland Agr., Hyderabad India. I want to persue a three months International training programme (ICAR funded)in nanotechnology. My area of specialization is beneficial plant microbe interaction in stressed ecosystems. Can you suggest any expert outside India who is using nanotechnology to study plant-microbe intaeraction. Please send me mail if you have any information.
regards
Minakshi Grover
minigt3@ahoo.co.in
Dear Minakshi
Thank you for visiting my blog.My sincere advice would be u try do course in India as doing outside will require lot of efforts and time from ur side for eg: if u do course in English speaking country like USA or Australia u need to prove ur efficiency in english like taking up GRE/TOFEL which will take 3 months u can as well finish above mentioned course.
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