A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms

Terahertz (THz)-based sensing technology shows promise for the rapid and efficient detection of unlabeled biomolecules and pathogens, attributed to their significant absorption in the THz range. However, its application has been limited by low sensitivity and specificity. Addressing this, we creativ...

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Main Authors: Xuehao Wang, Ye Tian, Fenli Liu, Lintao Huang, Fulai Zhang, Xupeng Fu, Yu Li, Qingliang Feng, Wen Zeng, Junli Liang, Donghao Cheng, Yadong Xu, Jingyao Dai, Chaojun Song, Airong Qian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Advanced Devices & Instrumentation
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/adi.0105
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author Xuehao Wang
Ye Tian
Fenli Liu
Lintao Huang
Fulai Zhang
Xupeng Fu
Yu Li
Qingliang Feng
Wen Zeng
Junli Liang
Donghao Cheng
Yadong Xu
Jingyao Dai
Chaojun Song
Airong Qian
author_facet Xuehao Wang
Ye Tian
Fenli Liu
Lintao Huang
Fulai Zhang
Xupeng Fu
Yu Li
Qingliang Feng
Wen Zeng
Junli Liang
Donghao Cheng
Yadong Xu
Jingyao Dai
Chaojun Song
Airong Qian
author_sort Xuehao Wang
collection DOAJ
description Terahertz (THz)-based sensing technology shows promise for the rapid and efficient detection of unlabeled biomolecules and pathogens, attributed to their significant absorption in the THz range. However, its application has been limited by low sensitivity and specificity. Addressing this, we creatively constructed an advanced detection technique named immuno-THz technology, integrating monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based specific molecular recognition with THz sensing. Detection of a variety of pathogenic microorganisms was highly sensitive and specific in our proof-of-concept assay, achieving a limit of detection of 74.57 colony-forming units/ml for Escherichia coli O157:H7, 0.05495 μg/ml for HAdV-B55 Hexon protein, and 0.00479 μg/ml for Staphylococcal enterotoxin B in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The immuno-THz technique substantially enhances detection sensitivity, marking a 100-fold improvement over traditional THz spectroscopy methods, particularly in detecting E. coli O157:H7. The advanced sensitivity and specificity of the immuno-THz technique will offer an improved approach for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, be applied in a wide range of applications, and impact on food safety and public health and national defense security.
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spelling doaj-art-b71eb1fbbf274e5496f2fe0bb915ad102025-08-20T03:02:21ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Advanced Devices & Instrumentation2767-97132025-01-01610.34133/adi.0105A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic MicroorganismsXuehao Wang0Ye Tian1Fenli Liu2Lintao Huang3Fulai Zhang4Xupeng Fu5Yu Li6Qingliang Feng7Wen Zeng8Junli Liang9Donghao Cheng10Yadong Xu11Jingyao Dai12Chaojun Song13Airong Qian14Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Interdisciplinary Research Center of Biology & Catalysis, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Systems for Aerospace, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.School of Electronics and Information, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, Beijing 100028, China.Key Laboratory of Radiation Detection Materials and Devices, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Air Force Medical University, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Lab for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Key Lab for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, China.Terahertz (THz)-based sensing technology shows promise for the rapid and efficient detection of unlabeled biomolecules and pathogens, attributed to their significant absorption in the THz range. However, its application has been limited by low sensitivity and specificity. Addressing this, we creatively constructed an advanced detection technique named immuno-THz technology, integrating monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based specific molecular recognition with THz sensing. Detection of a variety of pathogenic microorganisms was highly sensitive and specific in our proof-of-concept assay, achieving a limit of detection of 74.57 colony-forming units/ml for Escherichia coli O157:H7, 0.05495 μg/ml for HAdV-B55 Hexon protein, and 0.00479 μg/ml for Staphylococcal enterotoxin B in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The immuno-THz technique substantially enhances detection sensitivity, marking a 100-fold improvement over traditional THz spectroscopy methods, particularly in detecting E. coli O157:H7. The advanced sensitivity and specificity of the immuno-THz technique will offer an improved approach for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, be applied in a wide range of applications, and impact on food safety and public health and national defense security.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/adi.0105
spellingShingle Xuehao Wang
Ye Tian
Fenli Liu
Lintao Huang
Fulai Zhang
Xupeng Fu
Yu Li
Qingliang Feng
Wen Zeng
Junli Liang
Donghao Cheng
Yadong Xu
Jingyao Dai
Chaojun Song
Airong Qian
A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
Advanced Devices & Instrumentation
title A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
title_full A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
title_fullStr A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
title_full_unstemmed A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
title_short A Specific and Sensitive Immuno-Terahertz Method to Detect Pathogenic Microorganisms
title_sort specific and sensitive immuno terahertz method to detect pathogenic microorganisms
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/adi.0105
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