Fondef Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological

August, 2010. A group of specialists from the University of Santa Maria, supported and the company Fondef Silob, develop a system for rapid detection of infection in water through an artificial membrane, thanks to the insertion of a human gut recognizer, is able to detect pathogens present. Source: Gumtree

 

Above 12 million deaths a year are caused by problems relating to water consumption, its main causes lack health service waste disposal and clean drinking water, cooking and washing. In the United States it is estimated that annually occur near 900.000 cases of waterborne diseases, causing the 900 deaths. Y is either absent Chile this situation, and that despite the positive rates of drinking water coverage, sewage and health systems, statistics do not provide good results.

 

These data were sufficient for a group of specialists from the University of Santa Maria was interested in finding a solution to the problem, resulting in rapid detection prototype that allows, immediately, recognizing pathogens in water through a color change (by azul rojo) as a sign of infection. Something like a pregnancy test, that anyone in the world can use and that is low cost. This is the dream of participating researchers.

 

Emulation of the immune system

 

But, How does this work? Raul Galindo explains, Academic Department of Civil Engineering from Universidad Santa María and head of Project, This system is based on the development of a biosensor for the early detection of pathogens. This, through bio-mimetic membranes (artificial) cell membrane, specific bacterial receptors containing genetically extracted human intestinal system, which is activated when the water present infectious agents making change color.

 

“The chromophore is captured by this membrane, that under no activation is colored blue; but if activated, becomes rojo. But, Where is the bet? The idea is to incorporate a component of the human intestinal cell recognizer act as pathogens; similarly to what happens in the human body to activate its defenses in case of presence of infectious agents”.

 

As experts were launched with a proposed universal, decided to work with families of pathogens that normally affect health, so as to detect the presence of pathogens and specifying which no infectious agent is (listeria, cholera, hepatitis, typhus, etc.).

 

“We fired a more general idea; not think of a solution that specifically detects the species, but to say whether or not pathogenic micro pollutants in generic terms. After, in a laboratory, can check which is specifically pathogen is present, but the alert signal, the basic signal is that: that the person in the future to know if you can consume that water or not”, said Raul Galindo.

 

Rapid detection

 

The ultimate aim of the developers is based on a small “Pocket laboratory”, namely, a display that can be deployed easily and even could be constantly at home with alcohol and bandages. Galindo exemplifies a weekend outing or a vacation where, to ensure that the water is free from sector infections, especially if traveling with children, every person has the tool and do the test. Only applying the device drops, you can know the status of the water.

 

“Today no one can do these tests because it means following a screening protocol: draw water, to sample and take it to a lab is very expensive, and also involves a process that the normal person does. But with a device of this nature, I would think so”.

 

Also, Raul Galindo said “propusimos intentar establecer un sistema que permita una detección rápida, of no more than 4 hours and hopefully with a chromatic expression (color change) that can be seen by ordinary person without having to resort to a sophisticated instrument”. Also, assured that these features, you might think this prototype as a platform attached to remote sensing, and geo-transfer distance refenciación, with the aim of, maybe, link with international health programs and have a global georeferenced system on water pollution.

 

Now, the team already has membranes, which are in the period of analysis in their responses. In parallel we are working in the human intestinal cell recognizer, where they are using various methods to come up with the most optimal and give way to the stage of integration of mime with recognizer membrane.

 

The working group, Integration by Erika Valdes (Professor, Department of Chemistry), Manuel Young (Director of the Biotechnology Center at USM), Raul Galindo and researcher Patricio Villalobos (inter alia), obtained a background of 450 million pesos, which contributes Fondef 43%, Company Silob one 26% and the Universidad Santa Maria one 31%.

 

Edition: Gumtree / RR

 

Source: Universidad Santa Maria