Direct-read monitor for airborne viral pathogens

Aerosolized pathogenssuch as Influenza virusescan spread rapidly and silently throughout a populationcausing severe outbreaks that can be difficult to controlEarly detection of these airborne pathogens is key to controlling outbreaksespecially among vulnerable populations such as in hospitalstreatment centers or nursing homesYet available methods are neither rapidnor portableCurrent methods rely heavily on off site laboratory analysis with detection using enzyme linked immunosorbent assaysELISAto detect pathogen antigens and or polymerase chain reactionPCRto detect pathogen nucleic acids in collected samplesThis two step processcollection followed by off line laboratory analysissignificantly increases effort and time todetectionMoreovertraditional ELISA and PCR are complicatedand not amenable to automated detection of emerging outbreaks at the point of contactAdditionallycurrently used bioaerosol collection methods tend to damage viral particlesmaking subsequent detection of viral antigens and nucleic acids difficultThese factors make current bioaerosol collection and detection systems suboptimaland further renders them intractable for automatedreal time detectionNeeded is a sensitiveportabledirect readingbioaerosol detection platform that can detect specific pathogens at the point of contactSuch an instrument would enable quick identification of outbreaksand thereby enable rapid response to public health threatsAerosol Devices Incis an early stage startup company that is developing an innovative bioaerosol collection system that is quietfully integratedand inexpensive relative to traditional bioaerosol sampling systemsUsing a gentle condensation collection approach that mimics the human lungit produces high qualityconcentratedsmall volume liquid samples of viable bioaerosol pathogens that are ideally suited for microfluidic sensorsLikewiseDrsHenryDandyand Geiss at Colorado State University are actively developing innovative microfluidic electrochemical sensors to rapidly detect intact virus particles in biological samplesThe electrochemical sensors are robustinexpensiveand can provide near real time feedback of the presence of ultralow concentrations of viral pathogens when used with liquid samplesCombining these two technologies will provide a unique solution for bioaerosol detection that addresses the current critical market needIn this Phase I STTR proposalwe will demonstrate a proof of principle system that combines the two innovative technologies to enable real time detection of aerosolized viral particlesThe proposed system synergizes Colorado State University strengths in infectious diseaseselectrochemistryand microfluidics with Aerosol Devices expertise in rapid and robust aerosol collection towards a single fully integrated system that can rapidly detect aerosolized pathogensproviding early warning of outbreaks and helping to save lives Current bioaerosol sampling systems collect particulates from ambient air but do not detect airborne pathogens in real timeReal time detection of aerosolized pathogens can help reduce disease transmission and protect the public from potential epidemicsWe have developed a novel bioaerosol sampling system and an ultrasensitive electrochemical virus detection system that willwhen combinedserve as a robust solution to this problemand in this Phase I STTR proposalwe will demonstrate a proof of principle system that combines the two innovative technologies to enable real time detection of aerosolized viral particles