Background

Food products are tested for microbes before release to ensure safety and shelf-stability. Manufacturers also test the facility environment to catch contamination before it reaches the product. For testing, much of the industry still relies on “traditional microbiology” (i.e. petri dishes in the incubator), which is time-consuming and inaccurate.

Partner

A Fortune 100 manufacturer of soft drinks.

The Challenge

An unidentified contamination problem in the packaging facility was leading to losses in product. Their microbiological control program relied on traditional microbiology and an inefficient sampling program.

The Solution

TAAG developed a novel method for identifying spoilage microorganisms based on distinctive melting curve patterns of their PCR product. This technology was implemented in two kits (for bacterial and fungal spoilers, respectively) each capable of screening for over 50 targets in a single reaction. The melting curve signatures were interpreted by the TxA artificial intelligence. The kits were then used to systematically test products and high-risk sampling points.

Outcomes

35+ spoilage species were identified, including Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Pseudomonas putida, P. plecoglossicida, Bacillus megaterium, B. flexus, Enterobacter ludwigii, E. cloacae, Enterococcus faecium, Candida sojae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Serratia marcescens. Tailored corrective actions were implemented for each problematic species. 100+ high-risk sampling points identified, with sampling frequency adjusted dynamically based on AI-driven analytics. An 85% reduction in monthly environmental samples was achieved.

Background

The sugary or acidic nature of condiments makes them inhospitable to most microbes, like Salmonella. However, some yeasts and bacteria are still able to grow in these conditions, producing gas and off-flavors that spoil the product.

Partner

One of the largest global producers of condiments.

The Challenge

Our partner has a global operation, with different spoilage organisms of concern at each location. They required a customized PCR kit for pre-release screening of finished product.

The Solution

Our partner came to us with a wish list of spoilage microorganisms they needed to screen for in their ketchup. TAAG conducted a preliminary investigation by performing next-generation sequencing of product, revealing the presence of microorganisms not included on the original wish list. This finding led to a shift in strategy. The partner decided to implement TAAG’s high multiplex kits with HRM signature technology for simultaneous screening of product for over 50 bacterial and 50 fungal spoilers. This strategy will help develop a more complete list of problematic microorganisms, which will then be included on a custom-developed PCR kit for routine testing.

Outcomes

The project is ongoing. The preliminary investigation has already added value by identifying spoilage microorganisms of which the partner was unaware.

Background

Although state-of-the-art technologies like PCR testing are widely implemented in healthcare, they remain underutilized in veterinary diagnostics.

Partner

An innovative provider of veterinary testing for dogs and cats, using mail-from-home sampling kits.

The Challenge

They were offering single-plex PCR tests through a reference laboratory, with high turnaround times and at a loss.

The Solution

TAAG completed rapid, free development of two custom PCR kits, for dogs and cats, based on a custom wish list of targets.

Outcomes

The kits allowed for faster, more cost-efficient testing, ensuring a better standard of care for pets.

Background

Farm produce must be tested for safety like any other food product. The relative isolation of farmland presents a logistic challenge since produce must be shipped to distant laboratories for testing, often through areas with underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.

Partner

A multi-state grower of leafy greens with a substantial share of the US market.

The Challenge

They required pre-harvest testing of leafy greens for food-borne pathogens. They were sending samples to a third-party laboratory, incurring high costs, transportation delays, and long turnaround times.

The Solution

TAAG began setting up compact molecular testing laboratories on each farm, preparing for overlapping seasonal operations by training laboratory personnel, establishing quality systems, and developing a customized PCR kit for the simultaneous identification of Shigatoxigenic E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp. This allowed samples to be tested on-site after a 24-hour enrichment.

Outcomes

The project is ongoing. One laboratory is operational, with two more in progress. The new workflow reduces the average turnaround time and cost per sample.

Background

During the pandemic, PCR testing became our greatest protection against the virus. However, implementation of PCR was challenging, requiring expertise and specialized equipment.

Partner

Chilean Government

The Challenge

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an unmet need for fast, accurate testing in airports, at the border, and in cities.

The Solution

TAAG implemented a three-pronged solution. An AI-automated sample login and interpretation process enabled high-throughput processing of samples collected at the Santiago airport and couriered to the laboratory for rapid processing. Another laboratory, located in Customs at the Chile-Argentina border, screened people entering the country for Covid-19. Simultaneously, a fleet of mobile laboratories built on 15sqm trailers moved around the country in response to demand, collectively processing thousands of samples per day with minimal personnel.

Outcomes

Fast, accurate PCR testing was provided for the country in the places where it was needed most.

Background

Fermentation of beer and wine relies on precise combinations and quantities of specific yeast and bacterial species. Disruption of this balance leads to off-flavors, bloating of cans, and other quality problems. Thus, testing must be quantitative (determine how much of each microbe there is).

Partner

The largest producer and exporter of wine in Latin America

The Challenge

They needed a no-enrichment method for identifying and measuring the presence of spoilage organisms that could threaten the shelf-stability of their wine. Their previous PCR provider had ceased operations, so speed of development was essential.

The Solution

We used a filtration method to substitute for enrichment without a loss in sensitivity. A PCR assay was rapidly developed for the simultaneous semi-quantification of: Zygosaccharomyces spp., Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Saccharomyces spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Outcomes

Our partner was able to successfully transition from their previous kit provider to TAAG. They also lowered costs per sample by using a customized kit that only included targets they needed.