Rapid Detection Method Research Articles

One-Pot Assay for Rapid Detection of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia, SMA) is a common opportunistic pathogen that poses a serious threat to the food industry and human health. Traditional detection methods for SMA are time-consuming, have low detection rates, require complex and expensive equipment and professional technical personnel for operation, and are unsuitable for on-site detection. Therefore, establishing an efficient on-site detection method has great significance in formulating appropriate treatment strategies and ensuring food safety. In the present study, a rapid one-pot detection method was established for SMA using a combination of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) and CRISPR/Cas12a, referred to as ORCas12a-SMA (one-pot RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a platform). In the ORCas12a-SMA detection method, all components were added into a single tube simultaneously to achieve one-pot detection and address the problems of nucleic acid cross-contamination and reduced sensitivity caused by frequent cap opening during stepwise detection. The ORCas12a-SMA method could detect at least 3 × 10° copies·μL-1 of SMA genomic DNA within 30 min at 37 °C. Additionally, this method exhibited sensitivity compared to the typical two-step RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a method. Overall, the ORCas12a-SMA detection offered the advantages of rapidity, simplicity, high sensitivity and specificity, and decreased need for complex large-scale instrumentation. This assay is the first application of the one-pot platform based on the combination of RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a in SMA detection and is highly suitable for point-of-care testing. It helps reduce losses in the food industry and provides assistance in formulating timely and appropriate antimicrobial treatment plans.

A rapid economical multiplex PCR-RFLP method for molecular detection and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis clinical isolates

Giardia duodenalis is a common cause of diarrheal illness in regions with limited resources. The demand for rapid and cost-effective detection and genotyping methods in large-scale epidemiological studies and clinical diagnostics is imperative. Hence, we developed a multiplex PCR-RFLP technique targeting the tpi gene of G. duodenalis. The assay successfully screened G. duodenalis positive clinical samples (6.33 %; 36/565). It was also able to categorize the isolates into assemblages A (41.66 %; 13/36) and B (58.33 %; 23/36), as well as into subassemblages: AI (13.8 %; 5/36), AII (27.77 %; 10/36), BIII (36.11 %; 15/36) and BIV (22.22 %; 8/36). High diagnostic sensitivity (94.2 %), specificity (100 %) and accuracy (97.1 %) of the PCR assay were obtained, indicating its reliability for diagnosing giardiasis. Notably, the assay demonstrated close concordance with microscopy (κ=0.85) and reference PCR (κ=0.98) results. The optimized method offers a cost-effective and rapid approach for G. duodenalis detection and genotyping, convenient for epidemiological studies and clinical diagnostics.

Bridge modal identification method based on adaptive VMD-HT algorithm

ABSTRACT Bridge engineering structures play a crucial role in transportation. Traditional methods of road and bridge closures for inspection and evaluation, while effective, increase bridge inspection costs and disrupt normal traffic flow. Therefore, a rapid detection and evaluation method for bridge structural modal parameters in the operational state is more suitable for practical engineering applications. However, under real operating conditions, bridge vibration signals typically contain a large amount of noise and interference, and modal identification must overcome issues of non-stationarity and non-linearity in the vibration signals caused by vehicle loads and environmental changes to ensure the accuracy of the identification. This study replaces the traditional Empirical Mode Decomposition algorithm in the Hilbert-Huang Transform with the Variational Mode Decomposition algorithm. It proposes a new method that combines the VMD algorithm with the Hilbert Transform, referred to as the Variational Mode Decomposition-Hilbert Transform method. Compared to the EMD algorithm, it offers significant improvements in suppressing mode mixing and endpoint effects. A vehicle-bridge coupling model was constructed, and the bridge’s natural modal information was successfully extracted from the vibration response signals. The research results indicate that the improved algorithm offers higher accuracy and faster computational speed compared to traditional identification algorithms.

A disposable microfluidic aptasensor for one-step and real-time detection of sub-femtomolar-level aflatoxin B1 in food

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic substance found in food, necessitating rapid and sensitive detection methods. Combining interfacial capacitive sensing with AC electrothermal (ACET) enrichment, an aptasensor based on a PCB electrode array is developed for real-time detection of trace AFB1. Owing to the sensitive solid–liquid capacitance with a pF-level resolution, AFB1 detection at sub-femtomolar level is achieved. The induced ACET flows enrich AFB1 molecules towards the electrode surface during capacitance measurement, enabling a one-step detection containing target enrichment, with an overall time of 20 s without any extra concentrating devices or processes. This sensor has a low detection limit of 620 aM, a selectivity of 2262:1 against interferences, and a wide semi-log linear range from 1 fM to 10 pM. It is with a cost below 1 US dollar for disposable detection and a convenient operation for on-site application. The detection of AFB1 in three types of quality control samples demonstrates a good feasibility for food safety inspection.

Visual and fluorescent detection of Moraxella catarrhalis by multiple cross displacement amplification-based assay

Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis), once considered as a harmless commensal bacterium, is now recognized as a significant pathogen associated with human mucosal infection. Hence, development of rapid, accurate, and user-friendly detection method is crucial for effective control and management of M. catarrhalis infections. Here, we introduce the M. catarrhalis MCDA-FRT assay, a novel diagnostic approach based on multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) for the visual and fluorescent (FRT) detection of M. catarrhalis. This innovative method amplifies the target sequence through MCDA reaction and provides results through the visual observation of a fluorescent signal when exposed to blue light. The generation of the fluorescent signal is facilitated by the cleavage of the restriction endonuclease Nb.BsrDⅠ. The M. catarrhalis MCDA-FRT assay can efficiently detect M. catarrhalis at a temperature of 65 °C in 40 min. It exhibits a remarkable sensitivity of 35 fg of M. catarrhalis genomic DNA, with a specificity of 100%. Furthermore, the assay accurately identified all M. catarrhalis-infected clinical samples tested. In conclusion, the M. catarrhalis MCDA-FRT assay showcases outstanding performance in terms of simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity, which can be used as a promising diagnostic tool for the swift and reliable detection of M. catarrhalis in both field and basic medical settings.

Bifunctional NiFe-LDH@AgCit nanocomposite-based immunosensor for electrochemical and colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has precipitated a global public health emergency, necessitating the urgent development of rapid and accurate virus detection methods. Compared with the current single-signal detection methods commonly used, dual-mode detection has inherent self-verification and self-correction functions and is expected to provide more reliable and interference-resistant detection results. In this work, a rapid approach for SARS-CoV-2 detection was developed using an electrochemical and colorimetric immunosensor based on a NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) loaded with silver citrate (NiFe-LDH@AgCit). The electrochemical sensor is capable of measuring the electrical signal of the transition from Ag to Ag+ in the presence of SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, the color reaction of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine with ⋅OH can be used to build a colorimetric sensor. In electrochemical and colorimetric sensing systems, the linear detection ranges were 0.0005–10 and 0.001–10 ng mL−1, respectively. The corresponding limits of detection reached as low as 0.167 and 0.333 pg mL−1, respectively. In addition, the dual-signal sensor has been favorably used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human serum, and the recovery ranges were 99.0 %–101.6 % and 100.6 %–104.5 %, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed dual-signal sensing technique offers novel insights for the prompt diagnosis of virus-related illnesses, which has wide application prospects.

Rapid identification of milk powder adulteration based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

In recent years, milk powder adulteration has emerged as a matter of great concern. In this study, a rapid, accurate, and efficient detection method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) was established to detect milk powder adulteration. The “coffee ring” effect-based gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as the SERS-enhancing substrate were coupled with a portable Raman spectrometer, which enabled the differentiation of various brands of milk powder and the detection of melamine in milk powder. The substrate exhibited good SERS enhancement ability with an enhancement factor of 104. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9903 was observed between the melamine Raman intensity and concentration from 0.5 to 5.0 mg/kg. The calculated limit of detection of melamine (LOD) was 0.15 mg/kg, while the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.5 mg/kg. In addition, when the method was applied to the detection of melamine in milk powder samples, this method achieved the recovery rates of melamine in milk powder samples ranged from 92.83% to 98.86% with relative standard deviations between 0.84% and 1.14%. In summary, the established method offers the advantages of cost-effectiveness, less sample requirement, and shorter detection time, meeting the needs for milk powder classification and rapid melamine detection.

CRISPR-Cas12a-based nanoparticle biosensor for detection of pathogenic bacteria in food

Pathogenic bacterial contamination of food is a major challenge in food safety and public health management. To monitor pathogenic bacteria in food, a rapid, sensitive, and specific pathogen detection method is needed. CRISPR-Cas12a has been developed as a sensitive method for detecting pathogenic bacteria, but its output signal is fluorescent, which need equipment to detect. Here, the nanoparticle probe was designed to detect the activity of Cas12a and were able to visualize the assay results by observing the color change by naked eyes. The target sequences of pathogenic bacteria were amplified by recombinase polymerase, then recognized and bound by the crRNA and Cas12a complex. The activated Cas12a cleaved the linker-ssDNA connecting the nanoparticles, causing the nanoparticles to transition from aggregation to dispersion, and the color showed as purple. The sensitivity analysis showed that the limits of detection (LOD) reached 1 × 10°CFU/mL, 1 × 104 CFU/mL, 1 × 102 CFU/mL, 1 × 103 CFU/mL, 1 × 101 CFU/mL for Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes, which were all specific for five bacteria in the milk samples. Therefore, this method is a dependable, fast, sensitive and specific method, which make the CRIPSR-Cas12a detection method more useful in bacterial pathogenic detection.

Revolution in malaria detection: unveiling current breakthroughs and tomorrow's possibilities in biomarker innovation.

The ongoing battle against malaria has seen significant advancements in diagnostic methodologies, particularly through the discovery and application of novel biomarkers. Traditional diagnostic techniques, such as microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests, have their limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and the ability to detect low-level infections. Recent breakthroughs in biomarker research promise to overcome these challenges, providing more accurate, rapid, and non-invasive detection methods. These advancements are critical in enhancing early detection, guiding effective treatment, and ultimately reducing the global malaria burden. Innovative approaches in biomarker detection are leveraging cutting-edge technologies like next-generation sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics. These techniques have led to the identification of new biomarkers that can be detected in blood, saliva, or urine, offering less invasive and more scalable options for widespread screening. For instance, the discovery of specific volatile organic compounds in the breath of infected individuals presents a revolutionary non-invasive diagnostic tool. Additionally, the integration of machine learning algorithms with biomarker data is enhancing the precision and predictive power of malaria diagnostics, making it possible to distinguish between different stages of infection and identify drug-resistant strains. Looking ahead, the future of malaria detection lies in the continued exploration of multi-biomarker panels and the development of portable, point-of-care diagnostic devices. The incorporation of smartphone-based technologies and wearable biosensors promises to bring real-time monitoring and remote diagnostics to even the most resource-limited settings.

Research on Rapid Detection Method of Cavitation State of Water jet Propulsion Pump Based on Multi-source and Multi-feature of Acoustic Emission Signal and Bayesian Network

Abstract Cavitation prevents the conversion of internal dynamic and pressure energy in a water jet propulsion pump and causes erosion of flow passage components. Acoustic emission is a non-destructive test method for instability signals. Based on the incipient mechanism and development process of cavitation, three acoustic emission signal feature parameters (ring counting rate, energy release rate, Hurst index) are proposed to define the cavitation state utilizing the waveform pattern and signal self-similarity. The multi-source and multi-feature cavitation identification model of acoustic emission signals is established through cavitation simulation, multi-monitoring point acoustic emission signal testing, and feature parameter extraction, and a large number of probabilistic trainings are carried out using Bayesian network, resulting in a fast cavitation state identification method based on acoustic emission signals. The research results have important practical engineering application significance for the prediction of cavitation resistance, real-time dynamic monitoring of cavitation phenomenon and prevention of cavitation damage.

Improvement of direct microscopy method for differential diagnosis of skin mycoses

Background and Aim.In the practice of veterinary doctors, a number of methods for diagnosing dermatomycoses are used, methods of direct and luminescent microscopy are undeservedly ignored. Сomparative analysis of staining methods for improving the method of direct microscopy, rapid and reliable detection of spores and mycelium in biomaterial, identification of pathogens and differential diagnosis of skin mycoses is of crucial importance for the effective treatment of animalsMaterials and Methods. 47 clinical samples of wool and skin taken from farm animals were examined for dermatomycetes. Diagnosis was performed using direct microscopy, fluorescence microscopy with calcofluor, and culture medium culture Saburo. Results. During the study of 47 samples of biological material, it was found that during microscopy the pathogen was detected in 10 cases (21.3%), during KOH microscopy - in 15 cases (29.9%), during KOH microscopy with other dyes in 11 cases (23.4%), during KOH microscopy with color calcofluor in 25 cases (53.2%). The efficiency of the KOH microscopy method with white calcofluor in comparison with direct microscopy was 60% higher, in comparison with KOH microscopy with other dyes - by 56%, classical KOH microscopy by 43.8%. By the culture method, pathogens were detected in 28 cases (59.6%), of which 7 Trichophyton spp., 1 Microsporum spp., 14 Aspergillius spp., 6 yeast. Growth was absent in 19 samples (40.4%), bacteria were detected in 3 samples (6.3%). In comparison with КOH microscopy with calcofluor white, positive results were confirmed in 89.3%.Conclusion. The use of coloring with various dyes of morphological elements of micromycetes in pure cultures allows you to identify mycelial hyphae of various thicknesses, spores, conidia, other morphological structures and carry out a quick preliminary identification of dermatomycetes and opportunistic mold fungi in smears.

Construction of hollow NiCo-LDH nanocages for electrochemical sensing of hydrazine based on template etching strategy

The improper use of hydrazine (N2H4) will cause serious pollution to the environment and harm to human health. It is essential to establish a rapid and sensitive detection method for N2H4 in the environment. In this study, NiCo-LDH self-assembled hollow nanocages (HNCs) are prepared by in-situ etching using Cu2O nanocube as precursor template. The unique hollow nanocage structure can significantly increase the active site of the catalyst, which is beneficial for ion transfer and charge transport, thereby improving the electrocatalytic performance of the N2H4 sensor. The detection linear range is 3 × 10−3 mM −2 mM and 3 μM to 6 mM, and the detection limit (LOD) is 0.135 μM (S/N = 3). Additionally, it shows good selectivity, reproducibility and stability. The constructed novel N2H4 electrochemical sensor has potential application prospects in environmental water samples.

Detection of Porcine Circovirus (PCV) Using CRISPR-Cas12a/13a Coupled with Isothermal Amplification.

The impact of porcine circovirus (PCV) on the worldwide pig industry is profound, leading to notable economic losses. Early and prompt identification of PCV is essential in managing and controlling this disease effectively. A range of detection techniques for PCV have been developed and primarily divided into two categories focusing on nucleic acid or serum antibody identification. The methodologies encompass conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), immunofluorescence assay (IFA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Despite their efficacy, these techniques are often impeded by the necessity for substantial investment in equipment, specialized knowledge, and intricate procedural steps, which complicate their application in real-time field detections. To surmount these challenges, a sensitive, rapid, and specific PCV detection method using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas12a/13a coupled with isothermal amplification, such as enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), has been developed. This novel method has undergone meticulous optimization for detecting PCV types 2, 3, and 4, boasting a remarkable sensitivity to identify a single copy per microliter. The specificity of this technique is exemplary, with no observable interaction with other porcine viruses such as PEDV, PRRSV, PRV, and CSFV. Its reliability has been validated with clinical samples, where it produced a perfect alignment with qPCR findings, showcasing a 100% coincidence rate. The elegance of merging CRISPR-Cas technology with isothermal amplification assays lies in its on-site testing without the need for expensive tools or trained personnel, rendering it exceptionally suitable for on-site applications, especially in resource-constrained swine farming environments. This review assesses and compares the process and characteristics inherent in the utilization of ERA/LAMP/RPA-CRISPR-Cas12a/Cas13a methodologies for the detection of PCV, providing critical insights into their practicality and effectiveness.

Spore PCR and qPCR Methods for Rapid Detection of Five Colletotrichum Species Responsible for Pepper Anthracnose in Korea

Pepper anthracnose, caused by <i>Colletotrichum</i> spp., leads to a decrease in the quantity of pepper fruit production. Molecular diagnosis is crucial for rapid identification of pathogens and determination of fungicide resistance. However, the traditional process of isolating the pathogen, extracting genomic DNA, and analyzing the gene sequence is time-consuming, which delays rapid diagnosis. In this study, we introduced a method using conidia of <i>Colletotrichum</i> spp. instead of genomic DNA, eliminating the need for DNA extraction or special processing for diagnosis. To elucidate this method, sensitivity was assessed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) tests using internal transcribed spacer-based primer pairs. Both PCR and qPCR tests showed that detection is feasible with just one conidia, with over 1,000 conidia yielding results comparable to approximately 1 pg of genomic DNA. For amplifying the cytochrome b gene for quinone-outside inhibitor fungicide susceptibility testing, detection from a single conidium is achievable, but a stable PCR product is obtained by increasing the number of cycles to 35. Additionally, the addition of 10% grinding fresh chili pepper paste to V8-Juicea gar medium, which is known for inducing conidia rapidly from the isolates, resulted in 3.2 to 6.0 times more conidia compared to the commonly used potato dextrose agar medium, enhancing the potential for swift testing. Taken together, this study presents a direct utilization of pepper anthracnose conidia through PCR or qPCR, offering a valuable technique for amplifying target genes, such as the minimum conidial amount and barcode genes, for molecular identification of anthracnose disease in pepper through PCR and qPCR analysis.

Adsorption and detection of praseodymium ion by ion-imprinted polymer with ultra-low sensitivity.

A novel kind of carbon dot (CD) was prepared by one-step hydrothermal microwave assisted method using L-tryptophan and L-tartaric acid as raw materials. Monodisperse poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) microspheres were utilized as the matrix, with praseodymium (Pr) ion (Pr3+) as the template, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and 5-amino-8-hydroxyquinoline (5-AHQ) acts as the ligand. A composite microsphere of ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) and CD (noted CD@IIP) was prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). For comparison, IIP without CD (Pr-IIP) and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were also prepared. Through static adsorption experiments, it was determined that the saturated adsorption amount of CD@IIP is 47.19mgg-1, that of Pr-IIP is 54.49mgg-1, while that of NIP is only 24.32mgg-1. Dynamic adsorption experiments showed that the equilibrium of three kinds of materials wasreached within 30min. Particularly, CD@IIP could emit two fluorescence peaks at 325nm and 421nm under ultraviolet irradiation, and exhibited excellent selectivity and fluorescence quenching effect on Pr3+. The fluorescence response of Pr3+ in the range 0-400μmol L-1 was determined by ratiometric fluorescence method, offering a two-stage model and robust linear regression coefficient. These results demonstrated that CD@IIP exhibited selective adsorption ability for Pr3+, and a sensitive, rapid and simple method for detection of Pr3+ was successfully developed.

An economically viable stable isotope-enhanced multiple reaction monitoring method for total fatty acid analysis in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The complex pathological mechanisms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are closely related to dysregulated lipid metabolism, and the therapeutic effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Zexie-Baizhu Decoction (AA) on NAFLD have been gaining increasing attention. However, research into altered lipid metabolism, especially fatty acids, in NAFLD and the intervention of AA faces technical challenges, especially in the precise quantitative analysis of fatty acids in biological samples. The high complexity of biological matrices, particularly after drug intervention, greatly increases the difficulty of detection. Therefore, this study innovatively developed a simple and economical stable isotope derivatization technique by synthesizing d6N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (d6-DMED) in the laboratory, establishing a simple and economical method for fatty acid quantification. This method employs a chemical reaction under low-temperature conditions to ensure the efficient synthesis of d6-DMED. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry technique (UHPLC-MS/MS), combined with optimized chromatographic separation conditions and dynamic multiple reaction monitoring mode, the study established a highly sensitive detection method for 35 fatty acid derivatives. Methodological evaluation showed that the limits of quantification ranged from 0.002 to 0.060 μM, with high linearity of R² > 0.995. Additionally, the relative recovery rates were between 93.14% and 106.63%. To further demonstrate the feasibility of this method for fatty acid quantification, it was applied to measure fatty acids in multiple tissues in a mouse NAFLD model, as well as the effects of AA intervention on fatty acid metabolism. This rapid, simple, and cost-effective detection method not only enhances the understanding of NAFLD mechanisms but also provides a new strategy for evaluating the biological complex system after drug intervention.

Rapid and Sensitive On-site Nucleic Acid Detection of Three Main Fusarium Pathogens of Maize Stalk Rot Based on RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a.

Maize stalk rot is a soil-borne disease that poses a serious threat to maize production worldwide, with the most significant cause being fungal stalk rot. The development of a visual and rapid detection method for the maize stalk rot pathogen is significant for its prompt and accurate identification, enhancing agricultural production efficiency, and implementing timely preventive measures. These measures will help safeguard the maize yield and quality, ultimately reducing agricultural losses. In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient method to detect maize stalk rot pathogens. We focused on three pathogenic fungi commonly found in maize-producing regions worldwide: Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium proliferatum, and Fusarium graminearum. Based on TEF-1α, we developed a rapid detection technique using RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a, combined with test strips to develop an on-site rapid visual detection test for these pathogens. The method showed detection sensitivity for F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. graminearum within 20 min at concentrations of 7.8 pg/μL, 0.11 ng/μL, and 0.13 ng/μL, respectively. The sensitivity increased with increasing reaction time. Testing of field disease samples indicated that the method is effective in detecting nucleic acids obtained through crude extraction methods. In conclusion, we developed a visually rapid detection technology that does not rely on complex instruments and equipment for the on-site early detection of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. graminearum in the field to implement effective control measures, ensuring stable and high maize yields.

Smartphone-based portable sensor with Bi-MOF nanocomposite for Cd (II) in vegetable samples

The accumulation of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) in the food chain poses a serious threat to human health, necessitating the development of rapid, on-site, and portable detection methods for Cd (II). Herein, we developed a smartphone-based electrochemical sensor for portable determination of Cd (II) in vegetables using a bismuth metal–organic framework (Bi-MOF) nanocomposite. Prismatic rod-like Bi-MOF was hydrothermally synthesized using trimesic acid as organic ligands, and subsequently, carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs) were incorporated to form Bi-MOF nanocomposite network. The smartphone-based electrochemical sensor enables rapid, sensitive, and portable detection of Cd (II) in vegetable samples using Bi-MOF/COOH-MWCNTs-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). A comparative analysis of traditional electrochemical sensors coupled with desktop computer for linear voltametric responses for Cd (II) in the range of 0.2–500 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.07 ng/mL using Bi-MOF/COOH-MWCNTs-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), the portable sensor demonstrated good linear range in 0.7–350 ng/mL with a LOD of 0.22 ng/mL. This work introduces a novel approach for on-site and portable detection of Cd (II) in agricultural products.

Colorimetric Detection of Aqueous N-Nitrosodimethylamine via Photonitrosation of a Naphtholsulfonate Indicator.

N-Nitrosamines are contaminants found throughout the environment, including in drinking water, and many nitrosamines are likely potent carcinogens. Correspondingly, there is a need for rapid and cost-effective in-field detection methods that can provide timely information about their contamination levels in water. This study details a colorimetric assay for detecting aqueous N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by photochemical nitrosation of a commercial naphtholsulfonate, to offer an attractive alternative to traditional laboratory-based analysis. The resulting naphthoquinone-oxime coordinates to aqueous iron(II) ions to form a green complex, allowing for direct visual detection. Characterization via Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, alongside single-crystal structure determination, provides comprehensive structure information on the iron indicator complex. Optimization of detection conditions, including UV irradiation and response times, led to an improved colorimetric detection method with a limit of detection of 0.66 ppm for NDMA. The practical applicability and selectivity of this colorimetric detection scheme make it a promising candidate for the development of field-deployable sensors for NDMA in environmental water samples.

Rapid and equipment-free identification of papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus based on RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a.

Paracoccus marginatus has invaded many countries, spreading rapidly and causing significant economic losses to crops. Accurate detection during the monitoring process is critical to prevent its expansion into new areas, therefore it is necessary to develop efficient and reliable detection methods. Traditional detection methods are time-consuming and instrument-dependent owing to the morphological similarities and small sizes of P. marginatus and other mealybugs, therefore establishing an efficient, rapid, and sensitive method for field detection in resource-limited settings is critical. A sensitive and rapid detection system was developed to detect P. marginatus using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a. The RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assay distinguished P. marginatus from 10 other mealybugs. The entire process can be completed in approximately an hour, and the identification results can be determined by the naked eye using lateral flow strips or a portable mini-UV torch. A method was developed to extract DNA from P. marginatus within 5 min. This method was combined with the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assay to achieve rapid and simple detection. In addition, two portable thermos cups with temperature displays were used to maintain the reagents and assay reactions in the field. This assay represents the first application of portable and easily available items (mini-UV torch and thermos cup) based on the combination of RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a for rapid pest detection. This method is rapid, highly specific, and instrument-flexible, allowing for the early monitoring of P. marginatus in the field. This study provides guidance for the development of suitable management strategies. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.