Hyperspectral Imaging: A Potential Novel Tool in Rapid Microbial Identification

The main objective of this proposed research is toevaluate the efficacy of hyperspectral imgaing (HSI) technique using a custom assembled HSI system to identify common foodborne pathogenic bacteria at colony and cellular levels using growth media as well as food matrices. Milk and milk powder are chosen for the proposed work to represent commonly consumed/usednutrient rich (i.e. proteins, fat and carbohydrates)high- and low-water activity (aw) foods, respectively. Whereas,Salmonella, STEC (O157 and Big Six),Listeria monocytogenesandStaphylococcus aureuswill be used to represent most common foodborne pathogenic bacteria from both Gram-positive and -negative categories. To achieve the aforementioned objective, the proposed work will have the following sub-objectives:Growth media study:Develop standard protocols to acquire hyperspectral data of individual bacterial colonies grown on nutrient and selective agarsBuild standard protocols to acquire hyperspectral data of individual bacterial cells isolated from nutrient and selective agarsGenerate hyperspectral data of bacteria at colony as well as cellular levels, and create reference librariesDevelop and validate robust prediction models for the identification and classification of bacterial colonies and cellsFood matrix study:Develop and/or verify existing standard protocols for enriching and isolating bacteria from artificially inoculated milk and milk powderValidate predictive models developed in objective 1.4. for the identification and classification of bacteria isolated from artificially inoculated milk and milk powder