Field Portable Bioaerosol Identification via Mass Spectrometry

KEY TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Chemical/Biological Defense, Biomedical OBJECTIVE: Develop a field portable, mass spectrometry-based system that rapidly identifies aerosolized biological particulate, arising from the breath of a warfighter, or from their surrounding environment and the identification technology must be adaptable to the evolution of pathogens both natural and synthetic. DESCRIPTION: Aerosolized biological particles are a major vector causing the spread of disease from human to human and from animal to human [1]. This is particularly true for respiratory pathogens such as adenoviruses, influenza viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Currently, global healthcare systems and governments are in acute crisis because of the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic disease caused by this virus - that arose from animal-to-human transmission. The ability to rapidly, accurately and affordably screen the environment for a wide range of aerosolized pathogens arising from agricultural sources (live animal markets) and human exhaled breath could revolutionize the discovery of emerging pathogens and the ability to identify spreaders of these diseases. The ability to identify bioaerosols enables a system that could pinpoint persons who are actively shedding pathogen and spreading a disease. Identification of these spreaders, and superspreaders [2], is a vital tool aimed at shutting down the infectious cycle. The enormity and constancy of such a screening protocol argues for testing that is non-invasive, extremely low cost and requires little or no consumables. In a patient care setting a bioaerosol identification system could be used to monitor the air surrounding the patients for the presence of infectious agent. Constant analysis of the levels of these agents in the air could be used to determine the efficacy of protective measures such as advanced filtration and ventilation on the patients and staff of the facility. Excursions of these measurements above an established baseline could alert personnel to dangerous situations, triggering responses such as donning of enhanced PPE or increasing technical measures such as the air exchange rate in the facility. Finally, while a bioaerosol identification device has great utility against existing disease states, the tool could provide critical information on potential new organisms originating in agricultural or wildlife settings. Constant monitoring of the air in these environments could provide critical early stage biosurveillance as organisms mutate, potentially resulting in a future pandemic. This mode of operation could be used as a biosurveillance tool and could provide early warning of the rise of a new pandemic threat. If a potential new threat is detected, the signatures of that threat could be propagated through a distributed system of biosurveillance devices.' This technology development focuses on mass spectrometry because it has the potential to meet the following requirements that would enable wide spread use of the technology: Direct, non-invasive sampling Rapid automated sample preparation (< 1 min) Very fast analysis (< 1 min) High sensitivity (10's of organisms) High specificity using biomolecular signatures Rapid adaptability to new/unknown threats through electronic signature updates Very low cost of analysis (