Research database

starting from agricultural soil samples, to identify specifically and through PCR-amplicons toxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus producer of the carcinogenic aflatoxins and rotting agents of different plant products including hazelnut and maize. In particular, the Lab on a chip will consist of two main modules: one for sorting Aspergillus spores thanks to nanoporous silica microbeads functionalized with antibodies capable of first 'capturing' the fungal spores and then of releasing their nucleic acids in an extractive buffer at high temperature; one in which part of the solution obtained is used for real time PCR amplification of nucleic acids. The “nano” module is coupled to a suspended microchannel resonator that acts like an extremely tiny and sensitive balance in measuring microbeads’ mass variation due to spore capturing and to DNA extraction. The 'PCR' module is coupled to a photo sensor capable of quantifying the fluorescence emitted during the amplification reaction. The modules are linked by microfluidic channels and electronically controlled. This portable device will allow the detection of the presence of Aspergillus flavus strains producing aflatoxins in the hazelnut and maize supply chain, providing means for enhancing the safety of these crucial food chains.