Unique challenges face agriculture diagnostics, dictated by the small profit margins in crop production and the need for rapid, reliable assay information under highly variable environmental conditions. The need to identify genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has recently become acute due to new legislation, public demands, global transport of plants, and commercial processing of food and fiber. Agdia, a leader in agricultural diagnostics has developed a formal agreement with AndCare, a leader in electrochemical-medical diagnostics, to develop novel, state-of-the-art electrochemical sensor arrays for the detection of analytes of importance to agriculture. Using proprietary immunoassay technology developed by Agdia, we plan to construct 8- and 96-well sensor arrays and portable electrochemical readers to detect commercially important Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) toxins used in genetically modified plants (corn and cotton) to control insects. The core technology being developed in this proposal can also be used for the detection on non-BT GMOs, plant pathogens, and pesticides. Our new assay technology will be quantitative, fast, inexpensive, able to detect multiple analytes simultaneously, portable, and easy to conduct under field conditions without the need for specialized training. ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH The objective is to develop novel immuno-electrochemical sensor technology for the quantitative detection of commercial Bt toxins in transgenic plants. The core sensor technology can also be used for the detection on non-Bt GMOs, plant pathogens, and pesticides. These sensors will have important advantages over current technology used in agriculture and can be used in all aspects of crop production and food processing. Agdia is optimally positioned as a worldwide leader in Ag diagnostics, to combine this novel sensor technology with their current immunochemical assay products, and commercialize a complete assay system including an electrochemical reader.
