Detection Targets of KRAKEN™: Bacteria, Viruses & Chemicals
Empowering precision detection through cutting-edge qPCR technology, our innovative system goes beyond pathogen identification. Harnessing the power of qPCR, we accurately pinpoint viral, bacterial, and even chemical targets with unparalleled precision.
Not limited to traditional pathogen identification, we specialize in customizing reagents and primers tailored to diverse sample matrices. Our adaptability shines as we navigate high-protein, fatty liquids like milk, various solids in food products, and even aerosols. This optimization ensures precise detection, highly influenced by the intricacies of the sample's environment.
Our advanced sensors deliver real-time, strain-specific, and quantitative results. They excel in sensitivity, capable of differentiating specific biological species and strains while mitigating interference from extraneous contaminants. Moreover, our detection systems enable simultaneous monitoring of multiple targets, incorporating stringent controls to eliminate false positives and negatives.
Explore our Target Inventory
Table of Targets of KRAKEN™
In Development
We are currently developing sensors that will be compatible with the current KRAKEN devices for the following targets:
PFAS
Blue/green algae
Sexually transmitted infections (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea)
Mycotoxins
Phycotoxins
Antimicrobial resistant pathogens
Opioids
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Bacteria
Escherichia coli
E. coli normally live in human intestines to aid digestion and protect from harmful microbes. However, some strains of E. coli are pathogenic, such as E. coli O157:H7, which is commonly associated with foodborne illnesses. Contaminated food or beverages, such as undercooked beef products, raw milk and cheeses, or contaminated vegetables, can cause infection. Symptoms vary from person-to-person but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. While some infections are mild, they can also be life-threatening.
Our rapid E. coli sensors can detect specific strains of E. coli in real-time. Implementing our E. coli detection devices will ensure only the harmful bacteria are identified and provide valuable data on active contamination.
Salmonella
Salmonella is responsible for multiple outbreaks of foodborne illness every year. Salmonella is often associated with undercooked poultry, eggs, raw milk and cheeses, and vegetables. If consumed, contaminated food or beverages can cause illness ranging in severity from stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea to infections in the blood, bone, or even brain.
Our fully autonomous pathogen detection systems can provide real-time updates on Salmonella contamination, preventing tainted products from reaching the public.
Legionella
Legionella can grow in building water systems, such as showerheads, hot tubs, hot water tanks, and plumbing systems. After these bacteria multiply, they can be inhaled through water droplets in the air, putting the person at risk for Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe, life-threatening form of pneumonia, causing shortness of breath, fever, and muscle aches, while Pontiac fever is a milder infection.
Our rapid pathogen detection systems can continuously monitor for Legionella in real-time, identifying water contamination before it can have deadly consequences.
Vibrio
Vibrio are naturally found in coastal waters, but certain species can cause human illness through the consumption of undercooked seafood or exposure of an open wound to contaminated water. If ingested, Vibrio can cause watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, and chills, sometimes progressing to more severe illnesses in people with weaker immune systems, such as young children or the elderly.
Our fully automated pathogen detection systems can detect specific pathogenic strains of Vibrio in real-time, identifying contaminated water within minutes to minimize the risk to public health.
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeria monocytogenes can cause deadly infections after eating contaminated food or beverages, commonly meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and vegetables. Most people infected with Listeria require hospital care, as the infection easily spreads beyond the gut, affecting other parts of the body. Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as the infection can spread to the fetus through the placenta, often leading to miscarriage or stillbirth.
Our rapid pathogen detection systems continuously monitor for Listeria monocytogenes, differentiating between this pathogenic strain and other harmless strains of Listeria to provide meaningful water contamination data.
Campylobacter
Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness worldwide. Often caused by consuming contaminated food or water, Campylobacter infection results in fever, vomiting, stomach cramps, and bloody diarrhea. Common sources of infection include shellfish, raw eggs, raw or undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products, raw vegetables, and untreated drinking water.
Our fully autonomous platform continuously checks any water source for Campylobacter, alerting of contamination before food and beverage products reach the market.
Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum is the bacterium causing syphilis, an sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to child during childbirth. Symptoms progress through stages: painless sores (chancre) in the primary stage, rash, fever, and fatigue in the secondary stage, followed by latent and potentially severe tertiary stages affecting multiple organs.
Our real-time pathogen detection systems autonomously monitor wastewater for Treponema pallidum, ensuring outbreaks are caught early on to prevent further spread.
Viruses
CrAssphage
CrAssphage is a recently discovered bacteriophage in the human gut microbiome. Due to the abundance of crAssphage in human populations, the virus is currently being used as a marker for detecting human fecal contamination in the environment.
Our real-time sensors can detect crAssphage in wastewater, groundwater, beach water, and drinking water, identifying fecal contamination in just 60 minutes to prevent the spread of disease.
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV)
Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is a plant virus that primarily affects peppers, although it can also infect other plants from the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes and tobacco. PMMoV can cause significant yield losses, reduce the quality of harvested fruits, and affect the marketability of pepper crops. Although Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is not pathogenic to humans, it is commonly used in wastewater monitoring to normalize epidemiological data.
Our advanced pathogen detection sensors offer continuous monitoring and real-time testing for PMMoV in water sources, ensuring infected plants can be removed before they cause further spread.
Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. The virus can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes. Influenza causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue. In severe cases, the flu can result in life-threatening complications such as pneumonia.
Our real-time detection sensors continuously monitor for Influenza in water sources to rapidly alert of potential contamination, allowing for timely interventions.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is a common respiratory virus that primarily affects young children. RSV causes infections of the respiratory tract, specifically the nose, throat, and lungs, and is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also survive on surfaces, allowing for indirect transmission through contact with contaminated objects. Although RSV often presents as a common cold, it can lead to more serious respiratory illnesses in premature infants or those with underlying health conditions.
Our autonomous RSV sensors can detect the virus in water sources in real-time, ensuring contamination is caught swiftly and rapid interventions can be implemented.
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the highly contagious respiratory infection responsible for the ongoing global pandemic.
Due to the rapid spread of infection, outbreaks can easily progress to epidemics or pandemics if the virus isn’t detected immediately. While current PCR testing can take up to 3 days, our state-of-the art sensors are able to continuously check for SARS-CoV-2 in real-time, allowing outbreaks to be contained and eliminated immediately.
Our rapid pathogen detection systems are also able to identify specific strains of the virus, including the Delta and Omicron variants, to deliver important epidemiological information.
M.pox
Over 87 non-endemic countries have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, leading the World Health Organization to declare M.pox a global health emergency in 2022. Infection with the M.pox virus can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever, and is transmitted through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on genitals.
Our automated pathogen detection sensors can detect M.pox in real-time, ensuring outbreaks are caught early on to prevent further spread.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, eventually leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if it is not controlled. It is primarily transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing needles, or from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and opportunistic infections due to a weakened immune system.
Our real-time pathogen detection systems autonomously monitor wastewater for HIV, providing valuable data for community disease surveillance.