Miniaturized eDNA Sensor System (MeSS)

Marine environmental DNA (eDNA) is a rapidly developing area of environmental surveillance that provides rapid information about the biological occupants of a given locality. eDNA surveillance can be used for detecting the presence of humans, pathogens, or biological warfare agents. It also will enable the U.S. Navy to monitor invasive species and the effect of military activity on the genetic viability of native marine species, both of which represent threats to food supply chain and can undermine Department of Defense operation. Water sampling is relatively easy to carry out and can even be done by an automated device such as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The next step to enabling the widespread use of marine eDNA for accurate, timely bio-monitoring, is providing the existing AUVs with compact, inexpensive, in situ analysis payloads and enabling technologies for such payloads. ChromoLogic, LLC proposes to develop AUV-compatible, Miniature eDNA Sensor System (MeSS). The detection and quantification of eDNA will be carried out in three steps, split between three modules: (1) clog-resistant eDNA pre-concentration and preservation module, capable of collecting eDNA from >30 L of marine water; (2) low-power digital isothermal amplification module, for taking the eluted eDNA from the first module and amplifying it using a panel of primers targeting any species of interest to the user; (3) on-board quantification module, for rapid, absolute target quantification and result reporting to enable adaptive sampling and result-driven AUV navigation. This modular approach will address the DoD’s urgent need for in situ marine species monitoring and will lay the groundwork for the future integration of more advanced eDNA technologies (e.g. in situ nanopore next generation sequencing) as they become available.