Novel system to detect bacteria in real time in aquatic environments

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Traditional bacteria testing relies on cultivation, which is time-consuming and fails for some species.
• Current methods often require extensive sample pretreatments and reagent additions.
• There is a need for rapid, on-site bacterial detection methods in various industries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a real-time sensor for bacteria detection.
• To utilize bacterial autofluorescence for rapid identification.
• To enable process analytical technology (PAT) for on-site quality control.

Main Methods:

• A sensor system employing a 405nm laser to detect fluorescence and scattered light from bacteria.
• Utilizing a flow-cell for sample analysis without pretreatment or reagents.
• Separating fluorescent and scattered light using a dichroic mirror.

Main Results:

• Successful detection of fluorescent polystyrene latex particles and bacterial strains.
• Demonstrated good detection capability for viable and non-viable particles.
• Real-time measurement of bacteria without additional reagents or sample preparation.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensor system provides a next-generation approach to bacteria detection.
• This technology facilitates real-time, on-site bacterial monitoring.
• It supports the implementation of process analytical technology across industries requiring bacterial detection.