Antibody-Gold Nanoparticle Complex for Silverleaf Disease Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting Chondrostereum purpureum fungus in plant samples, particularly in fruit trees, are inadequate for early detection, leading to significant crop yield losses due to the asymptomatic nature of the silverleaf disease caused by this fungus, and there is a lack of specific field test kits for rapid detection in wood and leaf samples.
Innovation Solution
Development of an antibody specifically binding to the endolipogalacturonase enzyme produced by Chondrostereum purpureum, conjugated with gold nanoparticles, used in an immunochromatographic lateral flow assay or ELISA for rapid and in-field detection of the fungus, allowing for quick identification of infected plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional detection methods are used, then detection can be performed, but early detection is not achieved leading to significant crop yield losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and detects the specific endopolygalacturonase enzyme produced by Chondrostereum purpureum as a biomarker, rather than waiting for general fungal growth or visible symptoms. This extraction of the specific pathogenic enzyme enables early detection before the fungus causes significant damage or visible symptoms appear in the plant tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from general fungal presence to specific enzyme activity detection. By targeting the endopolygalacturonase enzyme that the pathogen secretes to cause foliar symptoms, the detection system can identify infection at the biochemical level before macroscopic symptoms develop, achieving both high precision and early detection.
2Productivity
If conventional detection methods are used, then detection is possible, but rapid field detection capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex laboratory-based mechanical and biochemical detection systems with an immunochromatographic assay that operates on simple capillary flow principles. The test strip design allows sample application, reagent mixing, and result visualization to occur passively through capillary action, eliminating the need for complex equipment and enabling field deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gold nanoparticle-conjugated antibodies as intermediaries that bridge the sample and detection system. These conjugates provide both the specificity of antibody-antigen binding and a visible signal through gold nanoparticle aggregation or color change, enabling rapid visual readout without complex instrumentation.
3Measurement precision
If specific antibody detection is implemented, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a test strip platform that can detect multiple fungal pathogens by simply changing the specific antibody used in the conjugate or immobilized on the membrane. The same basic immunochromatographic device structure serves universal detection purposes across different pathogens, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high specificity for each target.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gold nanoparticle color changes as a simple visual indicator of detection. The gold nanoparticles provide a distinct color signal that changes based on aggregation state or binding events, enabling specific detection results to be read visually without complex instrumentation, thus maintaining simplicity despite high detection specificity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The antibody-gold nanoparticle complex enables rapid and accurate detection of Chondrostereum purpureum in plant samples within 20-30 minutes, facilitating early intervention and reducing crop yield losses by allowing for immediate decision-making in field conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an antibody that is used to detect the presence of the Chondrostereum purpureum fungus in a plant sample, where said antibody specifically binds to the endolipogalacturonase enzyme produced by Chondrostereum purpureum
Implementation Method 2
detection of the endoPG enzyme through the binding of said antigen to the antibody that is described on the invention, functionalized with gold nanoparticles, where said binding is detected
Implementation Method 3
Foliar symptoms, such as leaves looking grayish or silver colored, are visible after two or three seasons after infection and are caused by the endopolygalacturonase produced by the pathogen, leading to the disorganizing of leaf tissues and causing detachment of the epidermis from the mesophyll, forming an airspace layer that, when refracting sunlight, leads to the silver-greyish color on leaves
Data Source
AI summary
An antibody that is used to detect the presence of the Chondrostereum purpureum fungus in a plant sample, where the antibody specifically binds to the endolipogalacturonase enzyme produced by Chondrostereum purpureum (anti-endoPG from now). A kit and a method to detect fungal antigens, particularly, to detect the presence of the silverleaf disease (caused by the Chondrostereum purpureum fungus) in fruit trees, by means of detection of the endoPG enzyme through the binding of said antigen to the antibody, functionalized with gold nanoparticles, where the binding is detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or an immunochromatographic lateral flow assay.