Objective
Excessive use of pesticides in Europe has led to serious contamination of soil and water and presents growing threat to human and animal health. We propose to improve the sensitivity of biosensors used both for detecting incidental or chronic environmental contamination by ant cholinesterase pesticides and/or monitoring the efficiency of remediation of polluted sites. The enzyme acetyl cholinesterase is the target of organophosphates and carbonates, two major pesticides currently used in agriculture. We will employ a 'state-of-the-art' approach, utilizing X-ray crystallography, structure analysis, site-directed autogenesis and large-scale production, using suitable expression systems. This will enable us to produce new bio engineered targets both more sensitive to and more selective for pesticides of interest, and also possess creased stability. This will permit us to provide our industrial partner with deliverables suitable for production of novel biosensors possessing the specificity and shelf life required for manufacturing field kits.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologymineralogycrystallography
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Keywords
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
34060 Montpellier
France