January 17, 2014

US technology for rapid diagnosis of EMS to be commercialised

The University of Arizona (UA) researchers have created a rapid diagnostic test capable of detecting the genetic differences between the pathogenic and non-pathogenic versions of the common marine bacterium that causes the Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) disease.

So far, the only way to identify the illness is using histology, which is time consuming and expensive. A rapid polymerase chain reaction test for the detection of this pathogen will be the first on the market and is critically needed by the shrimp producing industry.

UA contacted the Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the university's technology commercialisation office, in order to hand in the solution to shrimp farmers. TLA, in turn, entered into a licensing agreement with GeneReach Biotechnology Corp. to commercialise the solution and make it available worldwide.

"In commercialising this technology, we're creating the pathways to get it out to the people who need it as quickly and efficiently as possible," said Doug Hockstad, director of Tech Transfer Arizona, the TLA unit in charge of moving innovations out of the lab and into the marketplace.

The UA created Tech Launch Arizona to advance University discoveries into intellectual property, and therefore to acquire a social benefit of knowledge.

GeneReach, based in Taiwan, which is in charge of developing and marketing the product offers reliable, affordable, and easy to use pathogen detection platforms, including equipment and reagents for multiple industries ranging from aquaculture, biosecurity, companion animal and livestock industries, in compliance with the respective standards.

"We all share a common goal: to transfer and translate Lightner's technology into diagnostic products to help the shrimp farming industry promptly," said GeneReach CEO Grace Chang. "We are pleased to obtain the agreement, and expect to launch the products in early 2014."

Las week, the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) of Thailand informed that a group of scientist from universities and research centres of that country and Taiwan, had been successful in developing a detection method for early mortality syndrome in shrimp. Biotec also stressed that the group had decided the free release of primers and protocols of their research on a PCR detection method for EMS - causing bacteria, which should be more accurately name hepatopancreatic acute necrosis (AHPNS) syndrome, to help reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.