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The objective of this investigation is to develop a novel whole-cell bioreporter that can serve as a model sensor for toxins in food commodities. Using biogenic amines as the model system, it is hypothesized that current bioreporter technology will allow for the development of whole-cell detectors that can quantitatively sense and rapidly communicate the presence of histamine in seafood and seafood products.
Histamine plays an important role in food safety due to its association with the foodborne disease scombrotoxicosis, which is the most common food toxicity related to fish consumption. The disease is caused by the ingestion of spoiled, or bacterially contaminated, fish, usually due to temperature abuse. Although methods are currently available for the detection of histamine in seafood, their cost and/or complexity prohibit their routine use. Using lux-based bioreporter organisms as toxin detectors can provide an alternative monitoring regime that is simple, inexpensive, and rapid. Lux-based bioreporters, or bioluminescent bioreporters, emit light upon exposure to specific target analytes. The light response is then measured with photodetector devices and correlated to the concentration of analyte present. The goal of this research is to first develop a bioluminescent bioreporter for histamine, and then use this bioreporter in three types of light monitoring devices; a high-throughput microtiter plate reader to provide requisite monitoring capabilities for large-scale food manufacturers, a hand-held portable photo multiplier unit for field-based analyses, and a new generation microchip luminometer to establish proof-of-concept for advanced detection technologies. Successful completion of these goals will generate accurate, practical, and cost-effective methods for the detection of histamine in seafood, and will establish a foundation for the development of second-generation detectors for sensing a variety of other food-related biotoxins.