Sensor chip detects pathogens in 30 minutes with high sensitivity

This is the claim of Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists and collaborators at Iowa State University, whose chip also eliminates the need for chemical dye reagents typically used in the diagnostic process. The new technology is said to show promise for rapid, low-cost point-of-care diagnostic capabilities in plants, foods, animals and humans, including detecting foodborne pathogens, bird flu and COVID-19.

Results from the new sensor are available in about 30 minutes. 

In their research, published in ASC Sensors, scientists used the new sensor to detect Phytophthora infestans, a pathogen that causes globally devastating late blight disease that is a particular threat to potato and tomato crops.

The research was co-led by Jinping Zhao, Ph.D., AgriLife Research postdoctoral research scientist in Dallas, and Subin Mao, a Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering at Iowa State University. Serving as corresponding authors were collaborators Junqi Song, Ph.D., associate professor and plant immunity research lead with AgriLife Research in Dallas, and Long Que, Ph.D., professor of electrical engineering at Iowa State University.