5/15/03

AU PREVIEWS LATEST IN PATHOGEN-DETECTION TECHNOLOGY

AUBURN -- The Auburn University Detection and Food Safety Center has developed a series of research breakthroughs, including a test kit to prevent "mad cow disease," that are now commercially available.

At its 2003 Technology Preview, the center featured 36 scientific research posters and five research presentations outlining its efforts to develop a biosensor capable of detecting foodborne pathogens.

The 17-member AU team demonstrated research breakthroughs and highlighted technologies that can be licensed by industry to protect the integrity of the U.S. food supply.

Among the research developments that can be licensed for commercial use are a handheld bacterial detection device for use in air or water solutions; phage as an antibody replacement for detecting pathogenic bacteria and spores such as Salmonella and Bacillus anthracis; materials for the long-term preservation of bacteria; and patented antibodies for the prevention of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow disease").

Two technologies previewed in 2001 have resulted in four different products that are commercially available today. They include a radio-frequency identification sensor tag unit for monitoring product conditions in large shipments and several test kits for the detection of banned ruminant meat and bone meal in livestock feed. Ruminant MBM is the source of transmission for BSE.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop technology for application in solving the real-world problem of food safety," says Bryan Chin, center director and chair of AU's Materials Engineering Program. "With the health of more than 76 million Americans affected by foodborne illness every year, transferring our technology from the laboratory to industry is of vital importance."

More than 325,000 people are hospitalized every year because of Salmonella, E. coli and other foodborne bacteria. As many as 5,200 cases of foodborne illness become fatal. Foodborne pathogens cost the United States more than $30 billion in associated health costs and lost productivity. Seventeen faculty members from eight departments in five AU colleges -- Agriculture, Engineering, Human Sciences, Sciences and Mathematics and Veterinary Medicine -- contribute to the multidisciplinary effort.

The researchers are combining their expertise in chemistry, microbiology, food science and agricultural science with engineering to develop a system to reduce foodborne infections. This system, based on radio-frequency sensor tags placed in fresh-food products, will monitor food for accidental or malicious contamination. The technology can be adapted to also monitor water supplies and air-intake systems.

The sensor tag system will be a valuable asset in identifying where and how problems arise as food is processed, transported and sold, says Chin.

Recalls of 27 million pounds of deli meat by Wampler Foods and 19 million pounds of ground beef by ConAgra Foods occurring in 2002 are among the top four meat recalls occurring in the United States.

Chin says AU biosensors will collect time-and-date data -- such as points of origin and distribution -- as well as monitor environmental conditions.

Unsatisfactory conditions, or the presence of illness-causing bacteria, will trigger alarms throughout the processing, distribution and retail food chain. Contaminated food can be removed before being consumed, or a recall avoided by correcting a potential problem immediately.

Companies are not the only groups who see the quality of life value in the system, according to Chin.

Daniel Schmoldt, national program leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Instrumentation and Sensors Program, has reviewed the AU center's research efforts. USDA, other federal agencies and private companies provide grant support to underwrite the research of the center, which is a member of AU's Peaks of Excellence program.

Click here for details on the Technology Preview, including a complete list of poster and presentation titles.

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may03:AU-food