Cheers to the TBS Project’s First Publication!

Cheers to TBS graduate research assistant AJ Gross and TBS microbiologist and Distinguished University Professor Mya Breitbart on their publication entitled: A reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the rapid colorimetric detection of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV).

This is AJ’s very first “first-authored” paper and is also the TBS project’s first publication!

The paper highlights the development of two quick and easy tests used to detect a plant virus called Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV), which infects peppers and is commonly found in human waste and water. These tests are accurate, work within 20–30 minutes, and don’t require special lab equipment, making them useful in the field or outside of laboratory settings. Because PMMoV is linked to both agriculture and water quality, these tests could help farmers, water treatment facilities, and food safety programs monitor for contamination more efficiently.