In March this class , a consortium of various inquiry institutions started the exploitation of a biosensor for real - prison term virus detective work in water system . It would be a universe first . fit in to André van der Wurff of Groen Agro Control , there is a groovy need for a sensor that can detect plant - morbific virus in piddle systems in actual - fourth dimension .

" The detector must be able-bodied to key between infective , ' live ' material and non - infectious , ' all in ' material , " he adds . " That is not easy , as the first upshot confirm . "

At Glastuinbouw Waterproof , André give an update on the joint projection of KWR Water Research Institute , Control Food & Flowers Foundation ( SCFF ) and TNO , with the cooperation of Glastuinbouw Nederland , Groen Agro Control and Sendot Research . The financiers are Stichting Kennis In Je Kas ( KIJK ) , Plantum , Stimuflori , Stowa , Topsector Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen and Topsector Water .

differentiation between living and dead"A tricky point in computer virus detection is the distinction between non - infectious , ' dead ' material and infective , ' be ' material , " excuse the microbiological investigator . " Only infective material can multiply in a boniface and is therefore important . TNO ’s sensor is able to measure both the amount of virus - in other watchword , the number of bonds that are form - and the binding strength between computer virus and antibody . A strong alliance corresponds to a ' resilient ' virus , a weak bond to a ' dead ' virus . We want to translate this rationale into a practical and affordable optical sensing element for plant viruses . It would have to be coated with antibody that bind these computer virus . "

outcome and no resultsIn a series of test , water containing the simulation virus MS2 was treated with chlorine and/or ultraviolet light in parliamentary law to partly inactivate the computer virus . These sample were then prove at TNO .

" This controller exercise worked perfectly , " says Van der Wurff . " Now we could really get going , or so we thought . We made a few series with body of water samples that hold back cucumber fur computer virus and PlamV. These were also guide through the Biacore . To our surprise , nothing at all was measured . "

Various explanationsThat was a setback , but it is not yet clear-cut whether the route has come to a deadened end . According to the various expert , there could be various reasons for the setback . One possible action is an undesirable fundamental interaction with the plant stuff used to contaminate the water with cucumber fur computer virus and PlamV. Such contaminants were absent in the run with MS2 .

Another possibility is that the antibodies used do not react with KKB and PlamV. As a result , no binding come .

programme B"We require to use a simple test to determine ab initio whether plant life balance cause any disruption , " continues Van der Wurff . " This can be done by add together virus - free plant textile to irrigate with MS2 and then run it through the Biacore . If it does not valuate anything , then contamination by plant life fabric is indeed the culprit . If it does value something , we need to zoom along in on the interaction between the plant viruses in doubt and various antibody . We will soon hear whether we can move on . We hope we can , because good and consistent measuring results are essential before we can start up translating them into ready to hand biosensors . We will doubtless encounter the necessary hurdle with that , too . "

Source : Glastuinbouw Waterproof