A new breakthrough process using DNA chip technology for controlling themicrobiological quality of water

摘要

Control of microbiological water quality (drinking and domestic water) is a key issuernnot only because of the health impact of potential contamination, but also because waterrnresources must be protected to ensure long-term sustainability. In addition, industries, whichrnutilize water to manufacture products, have to ensure that the product cycle is absent of anyrncontamination in order to ensure brand protection and long-term business sustainability.rnThe water industry is ready to move ahead in developing more rapid and more specificrntechniques designed to respond to new regulations and to consumer expectations for waterrnquality safety. New analytical methods based on molecular biology are being developed.rnCompared to techniques presently used, they allow rapid (a few hours as opposed to days orrnweeks) diagnosis, specific and sensitive identification of pathogens (as opposed to indicators)rnwith determination of their viability.rnAn industrial partnership between SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT and BIOMERIEUXrnSA was established in order to jointly develop the first analytical process in the world usingrnDNA chip technology, powered by Affymetrix, Inc. technology, which allows thernmultidetection of bacteria, parasites, and viruses in water samples in less than a day. ThernGeneChip? brand technology supplied by Affymetrix (California) is an established, provenrntechnology that constitutes a major breakthrough for this application since it allows rapidrnmultidetection of pathogens in one single analysis instead of several monodetection tests.rnThis Research Program between SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT and BIOMERIEUX SArnhas led to the development of a prototype, which represents a complete analytical processrnfrom a 30L water sample preparation to the multidetection of 13 micro-organisms. Researchrnhas come up with the product and reagents for sample preparation, choice of the genomicrnsequences, and development of the bio-informatics algorithm for multidetection.rnThe speed of this new process (less than a day as opposed to weeks for viruses forrnexample) and the specific multidetection of viable waterborne pathogens will make it possiblernto assess and protect against potential risks in a better way. It will also improve decisionmakingrnabout the best treatments to use and allow faster return to normal operations whetherrnin the municipal, tertiary (public buildings, hospitals, etc.) or industrial sectors (Food andrnBeverage, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, etc.).rnBenefits expected will have a strong impact on enhancement of consumers’ safety byrnallowing much faster and better evaluation of potential risks. It will also bring new know-howrnon occurrence of micro-organisms along the water cycle allowing better decision making tornensure water sustainability.