HelioCLEAN: miniaturized system for rapid monitoring of foodborne pathogens

Foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria pose a significant threat to public health, safety, and the economy. According to the CDC, approximately 48 million people in the U.S. experience foodborne illnesses each year, equating to about 1 in 6 Americans, resulting in around 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually, causing $20.5 billion of financial burden. Besides, outbreaks of these illnesses can also lead to costly recalls that affect farmers, food processors, and retailers. Current testing methods for detecting pathogens in food products are often time-consuming, expensive, and not suitable for rapid decision-making. As the food supply chain grows more complex, there is an urgent need for faster, more reliable, and cost-effective methods to promote the safety of the food for the general public. This research plays a pivotal role not only for agricultural producers and food processors but also for consumers and communities striving to guard the safety of the food industry.To address this issue, we propose developing a new technology called HelioCLEAN, which uses advanced biosensing reagents and a portable palm-size device to achieve rapid, sensitive and accurate detection of harmful pathogens presented in agricultural products. Unlike traditional methods that are costly and time-consuming, this system is cost-effective, portable and can identify contamination in hours. This allows the pathogen detection to be deployed pre- and post-harvesting, enabling broader applications. The research project involves designing efficient microbial extraction methods to collect pathogens from various food and environmental samples, creating highly sensitive and specific detection biosensing probes, and integrating these components into an easy-to-use testing system. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop, validate and produce this testing system to significantly reduce the risks associated with foodborne illnesses at the earliest possible time. If successful, this technology could reshape food safety practices, reduce contamination and resulting economic losses from recalls, and save many lives. By making advanced testing accessible to more producers, the project has the potential to create a safer and more resilient food system that benefits everyone.