About this Research Topic
Microbial pathogens in food and environment (for example, water) remain the main agents causing disease outbreaks, particularly in the developing countries where the sanitary condition and technical resource are limited. These microbial pathogens can be of viral, bacterial and parasitic origin. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the world with an unprecedented spreading rate. The transmission risk via contaminated food and environment highlights the importance and urgency of accurate and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 to ensure prompt quarantine and isolation of confirmed cases. In this regard, showcase of the latest development of detection will play a significant role in strengthening our surveillance and control of outbreak associated with microbial pathogens in food and environment.
To date, many PCR-led molecular methods are available worldwide for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens in the laboratory, several advanced detection methods, such as next generation sequencing (NGS) and third generation sequencing (TGS) also emerge to trace the origin of the pathogen. Current microbial pathogen detection methods in food and environment have deficiencies in terms of sensitivity, specificity, throughput, cost, turn-around time or user-friendliness. Few methods can meet the requirement of on-site investigation or applied in general laboratory. Recently, point-of-care-test (POCT) and isothermal amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick for visual observation may represent the develop trend of rapid and cost-effective detection of pathogens.
This Research Topic aims to provide scientists and professionals worldwide with the latest research development and application of rapid and cost-effective detections of microbial pathogens in food and environment, focusing on the development of new or modification of existing analytical procedures and including sufficient data from real food/environmental samples to test and validate the method. We welcome both original research and review papers to address the technical improvement and application. The following detection techniques are included but not limited to:
• Point of care testing (POCT)
• Fast quantitative PCR with high accuracy
• Novel isothermal amplification
• Fast sequencing pipeline for pathogen identification
• Multiplex pathogen detection
• Novel microfluidic detection
• Inter-discipline detection device (for example, biosensor)
• Food/Environmental specimen processing
Dr. Yi-Wei Tang is currently an employee of Danaher/Cepheid, a biotech company produces in vitro
diagnostic devices. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic project.
To date, many PCR-led molecular methods are available worldwide for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens in the laboratory, several advanced detection methods, such as next generation sequencing (NGS) and third generation sequencing (TGS) also emerge to trace the origin of the pathogen. Current microbial pathogen detection methods in food and environment have deficiencies in terms of sensitivity, specificity, throughput, cost, turn-around time or user-friendliness. Few methods can meet the requirement of on-site investigation or applied in general laboratory. Recently, point-of-care-test (POCT) and isothermal amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick for visual observation may represent the develop trend of rapid and cost-effective detection of pathogens.
This Research Topic aims to provide scientists and professionals worldwide with the latest research development and application of rapid and cost-effective detections of microbial pathogens in food and environment, focusing on the development of new or modification of existing analytical procedures and including sufficient data from real food/environmental samples to test and validate the method. We welcome both original research and review papers to address the technical improvement and application. The following detection techniques are included but not limited to:
• Point of care testing (POCT)
• Fast quantitative PCR with high accuracy
• Novel isothermal amplification
• Fast sequencing pipeline for pathogen identification
• Multiplex pathogen detection
• Novel microfluidic detection
• Inter-discipline detection device (for example, biosensor)
• Food/Environmental specimen processing
Dr. Yi-Wei Tang is currently an employee of Danaher/Cepheid, a biotech company produces in vitro
diagnostic devices. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic project.
Keywords: detection, pathogen, food, environment, rapid, automated
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