Early detection device for disease-causing bacteria is to become available worldwide in early 2014.
The University of Arizona’s Professor Don Lightner is on the brink of launching a solution for detecting bacteria which causes Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in stocks, allowing infected populations to be separated from healthy ones.
Lightner and assistant staff scientist Linda Nunan created a rapid diagnostic test capable of detecting the genetic differences between the pathogenic and non-pathogenic versions of the common marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyuticus, which causes the disease.
This method will enable specific detection of affected shrimp, currently only identified through the use of histology, which is time consuming and expensive.
A rapid polymerise chain reaction (PCR) test for the detection of this pathogen will be the first on the market and is critically needed by the shrimp producing industry.
To get the solution into the hands of shrimp farmers, Lightner is partnering with Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the University of Arizona’s technology commercialization office.
Through TLA’s processes, the UA entered into a licensing agreement with GeneReach Biotechnology Corporation to commercialize the solution and make it available worldwide.
“In commercializing this technology, we’re creating the pathways to get it out to the people who need it as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Doug Hockstad, director of Tech Transfer Arizona.
Grace Chang, CEO of GeneReach, said the products are expected to be launched in early 2014. Lightner is also ready to bring the solution to the world as soon as possible.
“Developing the diagnostic has been a complex process,” he said, “but now that we’ve got that done, I’m just delighted that we have a clearly defined way to get it out to the world to help solve the problem.”
EMS has been killing off the stocks of the world’s three largest shrimp producers; Thailand, China and Vietnam and in some places, production is down by nearly 50 percent from last year.