Yeast-Based Biosensors for Detecting Pathogenic Bacteria in Aquaculture System

This Phase I SBIR Project proposes the development of a novel Yeast-Based Biosensor for detecting pathogenic microbes in aquaculture water. Diseases due to bacteria and viruses cost aquaculture producers tens of millions of dollars annually in lost production. Early detection of the microbes that cause these diseases is the key to stopping the spread of the disease and limiting losses. Current tests are slow and require laboratory facilities and cannot be conducted on site. The new Biosensor provides rapid, low cast detection of microbes on site, without requiring laboratory facilities, equipment or specially trained personnel. The Biosensor will be packaged as a test kit. To use the kit, a small water sample is placed into a test tube and the contents of a small packet of yeast and an antibody that targets the microbe in question are squeezed into the tube as well. Then a ‘dipstick’ is inserted. A control test tube is handled similarly. After ~3 hours the dipsticks are removed and compared. If the sample dipstick has changed color, the test has detected the targeted microbe and the producer is alerted to the fact that steps need to be taken.