Portable microfluidic platform for real-time, high sensitivity identification and analysis of microbes and microbial populations

Microbial communities and their activities can greatly affect the mobility and other properties of subsurface contaminants. Specifically, microorganisms are used to degrade contaminants such as metals, radionuclides and organic contaminants as a part of bioremediation process at many DOE sites and elsewhere. However, despite advances in laboratory techniques for studying subsurface microbial communities, field deployable monitoring technologies for the identification and characterization of microorganism in complex samples are still lacking both in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. In collaboration with University of California, Berkeley, HJ Science & Technology, Inc. proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel, integrated and portable automation platform capable of performing rapid and on-site characterization of genes and gene expression of a variety of microbes in groundwater and other subsurface environments at DOE sites and elsewhere with sensitivity and specificity that are only currently achievable with laboratory-based instruments. Compared with traditional laboratory-based methods, our on-site analysis platform for environmental monitoring offers several important advantages including reduction in time and cost, and real-time data for better and more timely decision making. In Phase I, HJ Science & Technology will establish the technical feasibility of the proposed microfluidic automation technology. Specifically, we will demonstrate all the microfluidic automation steps including sample acquisition, cell lysis, DNA purification, PCR, the allele specific hybridization and detection. HJ Science & Technology will then perform end-to-end microfluidic automation of multiplexed analysis of E. coli and mRNA analysis. New technologies are needed for long-term and continuous monitoring of the remediation process of contaminants in the subsurface environment. The proposed technology provides the required sensitivity and selectivity, thus provides just such a means to accomplish this goal. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: In addition to the DOE sites, the proposed technology can be adapted to perform on-site monitoring of bacteria and pathogens present in air, food, drinking water, and soil that are serious concern to human health. Beyond government agencies, the proposed technology has immediate applications in private environmental remediation companies and waste management agencies.