Purdue Research Foundation

Valery P Patsekin

Joseph Paul Robinson

Bartlomiej P Rajwa

Euiwon Bae

Cheryl M Holdman

Kathryn E Ragheb

Jennifer Sturgis

Arun K Bhunia

Huisung Kim

Gérald Grégori

Edwin Daniel Hirleman

A system for the identification of micro-organisms includes an irradiation unit adapted to sequentially provide coherent electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths along a common optical path. A holder is adapted to retain a substrate having a surface adapted for growth of a micro-organism colony. A beamsplitter is adapted to direct the coherent electromagnetic radiation from the common optical path towards the retained substrate. An imager is arranged opposite the beamsplitter from the retained substrate and is adapted to obtain images of backward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the respective wavelengths of the directed coherent electromagnetic radiation. Some examples provide radiation of multiple wavelengths and include an imager arranged optically downstream of the retained substrate to obtain images of forward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the wavelengths of radiation. Organism identification methods are also described.

Organism identification

A system for the characterization of a colony of microorganisms includes a coherent light source configured to provide coherent light of one or more wavelengths along a common optical path. A holder is configured to operationally arrange a substrate so that the colony of microorganisms on a surface of the substrate is positioned to receive the coherent light. Scattered light is generated from the colony of microorganisms receiving coherent light. A first image capture device is configured to receive the scattered light and generate a scatter image from the microorganism colony irradiated by the coherent light. The system also includes a magnifying lens configured to magnify the colony of microorganisms. A second image capture device is configured to capture a light image of the colony of microorganisms magnified by the magnifying lens. Methods of assigning organisms to categories with like organisms without necessarily identifying the organisms are also described.

Culture imaging system

A computer method for correlating depictions of colonies of microorganisms includes receiving an image of a substrate associated with a first time and showing a colony of microorganisms. A second image of the same substrate and associated with a second time shows a candidate colony of microorganisms. A region of the second image that shows the candidate colony of microorganisms is located. The first region of the first image is compared to the second region of the second image. Based on the comparison of the images, the candidate colony of microorganism is determined to be the same colony as the first colony of microorganisms. Systems for moving substrates having colonies of microorganisms and maintaining orientation of the substrates before and after movement are also described.

Culture detection and measurement over time

A target within a sample can be characterized using an energy source configured to transform a metal in the sample into a plasma and an optical spectroscopic detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma to provide an optical-spectrum signal. A processor can determine presence of the metal in the sample using the optical-spectrum signal. The target can include a microbe or biological toxin. A recognition construct comprising a metal and a scaffold can be applied to the sample. The scaffold can bind to the target. Energy can be applied to transform at least some of the sample into a plasma. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plasma can be detected to provide an optical-spectrum signal of the sample. A preparation subsystem can add the recognition construct to the sample and a washing subsystem can wash unbound recognition construct out of the sample.

Metal-antibody tagging and plasma-based detection

An apparatus and method for characterizing a target, e.g., microbial samples or biological toxins, includes labeling the target with a biomolecular recognition construct and measuring an atomic-spectra signal of the biomolecular recognition construct. The method can include heating the labeled target before measuring the atomic-spectra signal. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing spark induced breakdown spectroscopy. The biomolecular recognition construct can be prepared by tagging a biological scaffolding with a metal atom or ion. In an aspect in which the target includes a microbial sample, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against epitopes present on bacterial surface, the antibody linked to a heavy metal. In an aspect in which the target includes a biological toxin, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against the biological toxin linked to heavy metals.

A multi-spectral detection and analysis system detects and classifies a targeted sample. The system may include a light source that causes the targeted sample to luminesce. A light dispersion element disperses the luminescence to a photodetector in a photodetector array. Each photodetector in the array transmits a signal indicating a portion of the spectrum to a multi-channel collection system. The multi-channel collection system processes the signal into a digital signal and forms the digital signal into a spectral signature. A processor analyzes the spectral signature and compares the spectral signature to known spectral signatures to identify the targeted sample.

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West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Valery P Patsekin