HSTU researchers achieve breakthrough in food safety testing
DINAJPUR, June 23, 2026 (BSS) – Researchers at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur have achieved a big breakthrough in food safety analysis by creating a fast detection expertise for the foodborn bacterium Bacillus cereus, a serious reason behind food poisoning and diarrheal ailments.
According to a press launch issued on Monday evening by HSTU’s Director of Public Relations, Md. Khademul Islam, the analysis crew, led by Associate Professor Dr. Md. Atikul Haque of the Department of Microbiology, has developed a diagnostic methodology primarily based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) expertise. The new method can precisely establish the dangerous bacterium inside simply 90 minutes.
Researchers describe Bacillus cereus as a critical menace to Bangladesh’s food provide chain attributable to its skill to infect a variety of food merchandise and trigger important public well being issues.
Analysis of field-level samples revealed that almost 80 p.c contained not less than one toxin-producing gene related to the bacterium. The highest stage of contamination was discovered in animal feed, whereas notable ranges had been additionally detected in milk and eggs. These findings counsel that Bacillus cereus could also be way more widespread in Bangladesh’s food system than beforehand estimated.
Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing strategies typically require three to 5 hours to provide outcomes and rely on costly laboratory tools. In distinction, the newly developed LAMP-based method can ship dependable outcomes inside 90 minutes and may be carried out utilizing easy tools comparable to a water tub or heating block.
The value of every check is relatively low, estimated at roughly US$2.50, making it extra accessible for routine food safety monitoring.
The examine additional demonstrated that the brand new methodology is about 10,000 instances extra delicate than typical testing approaches and achieved a diagnostic sensitivity charge of 96.1 p.c.
Speaking to BSS, Dr. Atikul Haque mentioned that bacterial detection can typically be accomplished inside 40 minutes, whereas absolutely confirmed outcomes are obtained inside a most of 90 minutes. He mentioned that the expertise is especially appropriate for resource-limited settings and has the potential to play an important position in defending public well being and guaranteeing food safety.
He added that the innovation may strengthen Bangladesh’s food safety infrastructure and open new alternatives for safer food manufacturing nationwide.
The analysis was performed in collaboration with Noakhali Science and Technology University and has been printed in the internationally acknowledged journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, incomes worldwide recognition for Bangladeshi scientific analysis.
According to the researchers, the expertise may very well be extremely efficient for presidency food testing laboratories, veterinary diagnostic facilities, dairy and poultry industries, and cell outbreak investigation groups.
The crew plans to develop the analysis via large-scale nationwide pattern assortment and surveillance research. They are additionally engaged on creating multiplex LAMP expertise, which might allow the simultaneous detection of a number of toxin genes in a single check. In addition, efforts are underway to create transportable field-testing kits for direct on-site use.
However, members of the analysis crew mentioned that restricted funding has constrained the scope of the undertaking. They emphasised that better monetary help would enable the expertise to be applied throughout extra areas and food merchandise, additional strengthening Bangladesh’s food safety monitoring system and supporting the manufacturing and advertising and marketing of safer food.