With the fears of bioterrorism on the minds of Americans following the events of Sept. 11, MSU researchers are willing to offer help if asked.
Evangelyn Alocilja, an assistant professor of biosystems engineering, developed the electronic nose - a device used to detect pathogenic bacteria - and has been involved in ongoing research projects for the past two years.
The nose, which can detect E. coli 0157:H7 in cattle before they are taken to a slaughterhouse, as well as certain forms of salmonella, could be used to track anthrax or other forms of bacteria in the future, Alocilja said.
“We have other biosensors we are developing right now for rapid detection of airborne or environmental pathogens and of course for bioterrorism defense,” she said.
For the nose to be able to detect biological threats such as anthrax, extensive research and development would be needed, Alocilja said.
Other bacteria that could someday be detected by the electronic nose include tularemia and smallpox, she said.
Although the threat of bioterrorism is something Alocilja said is being brought to Americans’ attention now, she said E.coli, salmonella and other biological outbreaks are still health concerns.
Alocilja said she contacted BioPort Corp. in Lansing after the Sept. 11 attacks about collaborating on research to combat potential anthrax threats to the U.S.
BioPort produces the only anthrax vaccine in the nation, but the vaccine is still awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Alocilja said she never heard back from BioPort but would like to be involved with the company if she is needed.
“I’m really curious and interested,” she said. “But no one has contacted me.”
But officials at BioPort said they did not speak to anyone from MSU about any possible research.
“Right now our singular focus is meeting the demands of the FDA and the requirements to gain approval of the anthrax vaccine,” BioPort spokeswoman Kim Brennan Root said.
Ajit Srivastava, chairman of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, said the department is interested in helping to combat any bioterrorism threats, but any research at MSU would require laboratory renovations.
“The facilities we have are not quite adequate enough to bring in dangerous pathogens and requires very sophisticated biosecurity and a research lab we don’t have,” he said. “There is a potential obviously, and we have tremendous interest in research on fighting bioterrorism, but given our current facilities, we’re not equipped to do that kind of research.”
