KeywordsBiosensors, Bacteria, random peptide mixtures
Current development stageGeneral list: TRL3 Experimental proof of concept  
Collaboration OpportunitySponsored Research with an option to License Research Results

Prof. Zvi Hayouka and Prof. Shlomo Yitzhaik

Background

There is an urgent need for the development of rapid bacterial identification methods to minimize contamination, decrease response time to treatment, as well as to prevent bacterial resistance in food, Agri- and health systems. Electrochemical biosensors are integrated devices that convert specific biological interactions into electrical outputs that provides users with actionable information, making them applicable in rapid bacteria detection. 

Our Innovation

The researchers developed bacteria detecting biosensors based on low-cost electrodes bound to short peptides (short amino acid sequences). When the peptides bind in a semi- non- specific manner to living bacteria, the electrochemical signal changes, thereby identifying bacterial presence and possibly bacterial concentration levels

  • Identifies and differentiations between gram negative and gram-positive bacteria
  • Low-cost and easy to assemble biosensor
  • Integrate in-line detection
Figure 1: Schematic representation of the live Bio-Electrode Sensor that detect the bacterial cells binding upon changes in the electrochemical signal 

Technology

The peptides are short amino acids, made up of inexpensive simple compounds that can be assembled onto low-cost electrodes. We predict that at mass production these biosensors would cost around $.05-$.10 cents per electrode and would interact with handheld devices in a commercial setting.

These biosensors attract various bacterial cells translating the binding to electrochemical signal. These new biosensors were able to identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa, after a 40-minute incubation time in solution. 

Figure 2: Demonstrating the EIS signal that represent the interaction of the biosensor with different types of bacteria.

Opportunity

The designed device will provide a general bacterial detection and quantification in all relevant fields such as agriculture, food, health, and environment. The researchers are looking for industry partners to direct the research to the most applicable fields, sponsor additional research and license the findings and associated intellectual property.

References

MDPI: Impedimetric Bacterial Detection Using Random Antimicrobial Peptide Mixtures