Katherine Heinecke
Biosystems Engineering
Research Topic: Simultaneous Isolation of Foodborne Pathogens Using Carbohydrate-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles
Research Poster Located in the Neighborhood Engagement Centers
Research Summary:
Katherine's research focused on improving the detection of bacteria using magnetic enrichment. She tested three types of bacteria—Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria—by mixing them together in different combinations. Magnetic nanoparticles were then used to concentrate these bacteria, making them easier to detect. After mixing and enriching the bacteria, they were plated on special agar, and the number of bacteria was counted both before and after enrichment. The results showed that magnetic enrichment effectively increased the concentration of each type of bacteria, even when they were mixed in different amounts, making it easier to identify and detect them.
