Identification of Hazardous Airborne Organisms Group 1: Beth Kerr Brita Roy

Background Stachybotrys is the most common form of hazardous mold found in up to 46 million residential homes Stachybotrys grows on materials with a high cellulose content that are at least 94% water saturated Spores containing mycotoxins are released from the mold as the water content decreases Mycotoxins cause pulmonary hemorrhaging and hemosiderosis when inhaled into the alveoli and release Satratoxin H

Project Description Designing a biological test to identify the specific airborne mycotoxin, Satratoxin H, produced by stachybotrys Designing an independent sensory device to detect airborne Satratoxin H Creating the device for use in homes as a preventative mechanism

Past Work Completed a patent search for similar products Revamped Ideation process flowchart Created detailed flowchart of toxin causes and effects Determined illness progression Ordered a book on mycotoxin protocols Researched stachybotrys mold and properties of mycotoxins

Ways to Detect Stachybotrys Type of TestProsCons Physical ID of mold Does not take much equipment Easy to learn Unreliable (comparatively) Could expose identifier to mycotoxin Genetic ID of mold Very precise Could determine whether the mold is a toxin-producer Must be taken into a laboratory Time consuming Requires much training Expensive Chemical test for mycotoxin Precise Distinguishes the specific toxin produced Expensive lab equipment Usually needs to be taken to a laboratory Biological test for mycotoxin Very precise Can calibrate sensitivity Only senses mycotoxin producing species Expensive Difficult technology Requires training May require laboratory

Biological Testing Procedures Type of TestProsCons Antibody-coated refractive plate May be made into a portable device Can be calibrated Difficult technology Must create antibody Difficult sensitivity calibration ELISA Common biological test Precise Simple positive/negative response Must create antibody Must be done in a laboratory May need fluorescence equipment BIAcore There’s one at Vanderbilt! Precise Must create antibody Limited by material properties Single-cell calorimeter Very small! Biologically calibrated Little toxin exposure is necessary Cannot calibrate Difficult design Expensive equipment Imprecise

Future Plans Get into some sort of post-undergraduate program (oops wrong presentation…) Contact experts in related fields Determine sensitivity necessary for test Find an antibody that will recognize Satratoxin H Begin designing a functional assay

Questions?