| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D001919/1 |
| Title: |
Characterisation of Endospores through Light Scattering Patterns |
| Principal Investigator: |
Rodrigues, Professor MA |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Faculty of Arts Computing Eng and Sci |
| Organisation: |
Sheffield Hallam University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 May 2005 |
Ends: |
31 October 2006 |
Value (£): |
102,478
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Optical Phenomena |
Population Ecology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This proposal concerns endospore characterisation through light scattering patterns in water-based environments. Endospores or spores are structures that allow some micro-organisms to survive and can be used in cell characterisation. Spores are the most resistant life form known to date. They can survive very high and very low temperatures, UV light, resist drying, harmful chemicals and many other adverse conditions. Furthermore, they can remain dormant for hundreds of years. They can be harmful to humans (e.g. in drinking water) and also play a role in biological warfare.The recognition of spores is a major problem with most conventinal recognition techniques. Serious limitations exist due to factors including high labour input, low sample capacity, and especially important, slow availability of results. Light scattering is an alternative method and our ultimate vision is that it could eventually be used for fast detection of organisms in their natural environment; for instance, real-time monitoring in water works. The technique consists of shining a laser through a sample and collecting multiple patterns of scattered light. From these patterns relevant cell properties are deduced (e.g. size, shape, number of layers, refractive indices, and concentration). However, current mathematical models of spores and laser scattering technologies need further development.We develop models of spores, first in isolation, then expanding the models to complex cells and ensembles. We also have the equipment available to generate experimental data and will make these data publicly available. As yet there are no data on light scattering patterns publicly available, whereas the research community has a general need for data to test predictive models.The research in this project will investigate the feasibility of spore characterisation through multiple light scattering patterns. If a system as envisaged here were available it would offer major advances, improvements and spin off developments in public health (e.g. water quality control, blood and urine analysis), and clinical applications such as haematology and microbiological analyses (including population diversity, viability appraisal, identification, biocide/antibiotic efficacy).
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shu.ac.uk |