LABOUR – LAMP-based biosensors for detection of GMO in agriculture

Project goal: The main objective of the LABOUR project is the development of a technology for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) capable of detecting fragment(s) of vector genes from transgenic constructs in GM crops amplified using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. In order to enable specific detection of LAMP amplification products, the LABOUR project develops and manufactures specific, sensitive, fast, cost-effective and precise biosensors based on the principles of electrochemistry and electronics.

About the project: The LABOUR project is implemented by a team from the BioSense Institute consisting of researchers from two centers: the Center for Biosystems and the Center for Sensor Technologies. This multidisciplinary team, with expertise in molecular biology, chemistry, physics and materials science, works together to address the problem of crop contamination by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by applying modern and accessible methods that have the potential to lead to the development of a commercial point-of-need device. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on four agricultural crops (maize, soybean, wheat and rapeseed), which are the most commonly susceptible to GMO contamination in Serbia. The primary scientific objectives are defined as follows:

1. Amplification of transgenic constructs of genetically modified (GM) organisms. Development and optimization of LAMP method protocols for the rapid and efficient amplification of fragments of vector genes in transgenic constructs from four frequently genetically modified agricultural crops: maize, soybean, wheat and rapeseed.
2. Biosensor detection. Detection of LAMP reaction products using several direct/indirect approaches enabled by novel biosensors based on electrochemical and field-effect transistor (FET) principles, constructed using advanced 2D nanomaterials such as graphene, MXenes and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).

Role of BioSense on the project: The BioSense Institute is the project coordinator and independently implements this project. In addition, one of the main project objectives is the establishment of the BioSense Institute as a leader in portable diagnostics, namely through the development of a multidisciplinary research core at the BioSense Institute that will work on a broader spectrum of point-of-need diagnostic applications in agriculture and environmental monitoring.