Classification and data analysis of food borne pathogens, toxins and food contaminants data using advanced technologies

The overall goal of this project is to create tools that enhance our ability to classify microbial/toxin identities from food contamination. To achieve this, we must define new toolsets for analysis of data as the size and complexity of data have increased significantly. We have been developing technologies for example, that currently use the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) data base (https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database ) for providing analytical decisions as to the presence of different atomic elements. However, there are many problems with this approach as there are many differences in the assay design, the instrumentation and the base materials that impact the results. Further, there are huge gaps in the NIST database and an alternative approach that focuses on biological measurements and updating this to include common foods, food components would be a major boost to researches in this area. It would open up an opportunity for more studies using technologies like Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) if more focused databases were available. A primary objective is to create a new database focused on the biological detection models we have been working on, including food borne pathogens, toxins, pesticides and a wide variety of chemical contaminants that might impact food and food projects. Creating more accurate classifiers for each pathogenic organism in a manner that allows for distribution to remote sites would give laboratories, food service centers, factories and agencies potential access to this database using the internet. Thespecific objectives of this project are: 1. Establish well defined spectra for organisms and toxins that comport with the emerging LIBS technologies 2. Develop visualization methods that allow a user to rapidly define abnormal biological samples 3. Establish a mechanism for cloud-based distribution of data and results 4. Create user-friendly interfaces for each of the output models defined. 5. Enhance the potential for phone-based download of data to/from the system.Specific targets for toxins will be: shiga toxins, botulinum and ricin. While other toxins are important, defining these will be very important. We will also target other molecules that have been shown to have toxic effect on individuals such as selenium.