Diagnostic kit for potentially deteriorating micro-organisms

• Grant number: 01/03075-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: May 01, 2002
• End date: December 31, 2003
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Soelly Magalhaes do Valle
• Grantee: Soelly Magalhaes do Valle
• Company: Tecxhall Tecnologia Ltda
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

Micro-organisms play an important role in the bio-deterioration of materials and, in a general way, in industrial processes. Some examples: the presence of algae, strong odors, stains, unexpected fermentative processes, among others.What’s serious is that industries only manage to detect the problems of biocontamination when all is lost, because there is no fast, safe, economic and efficient control to indicate that the situation is at green (bio-contamination under control), yellow (biocontamination in state of alert), or red (bio-contamination at dangerous levels). At present the service for controlling industrial bio-contamination is effected through complicated and expensive techniques. The present project proposes the use of diagnostic kits to monitor bio-contamination in industrial systems, in products and raw materials. The project for the development of analyses of biodeteriorating bacteria in kit will confer the following advantages: efficiency, practicality, speed, economy and above all safety for the health of the operator and of the environment. In addition to the safety of the integrity of the kit itself, since one of the great problems of laboratory techniques is the fact that external microbiological contaminations occur which could conspire to mask the results. The realization of the project will help businesses and government to gain access to fundamental information, which is presently difficult to ascertain and control. (AU)