The quality of water will help determine the biosensor
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Diarrhea is a common cause of death in children under the age of five. According to the World Health Organization, about 1.5 million children all over the world die from stomach upset every year.
It is for this reason that a team of students from the University of Arizona is developing an inexpensive biosensor - a device through which it will be possible to monitor the quality of drinking water.
On the idea of creating a device, they were prompted by Madeline Sands, an employee of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
She told the students about the trip to Guatemala, where she took samples of drinking water for analysis. Polluted water poses a very serious problem for developing countries.
"Because of frequent landslides, earthquakes and rains, it is impossible to determine which source of water is clean and what is swarming with bacteria," says Madeline Sands. "One thing is clear - in the conditions in which the population of Guatemala and not only they live, biosensors are just a necessary thing that will save more than a dozen or even hundreds of people's lives."
In 2012, a group of nine students took part in the International Engineering Competition for Synthetic Biology. This competition-competition pushes students to design and develop simple devices from interchangeable parts.
The students were preparing their invention all summer. They worked to create an easy-to-use biosensor, through which pathogenic microorganisms can be detected.
"We are developing a device that can detect pathogens, such as salmonella, shigella and E. Coli. All these bacteria are the causative agents of diarrhea, "says Ryan Muller, co-author of the development. - Ideally, our biosensors are designed for residents of third world countries. The device will help to determine if water is safe and does not pose a threat to health. "
The team is engaged in the creation of two types of biosensors. One of them is based on the principle of DNA - such a biosensor will detect organic molecules important for living organisms: high molecular weight, such as proteins, DNA, and low molecular weight, such as glucose and urea.
The second biosensor students will make portable to detect viruses in public places and in the field. If the device detects bacteria in the water, it immediately paints the water with a blue color, signaling a danger and that such water can not be drunk.