The scope of the project is the development of a handheld device capable of operating isothermal nucleic acid reactions for the detection of wine pathogens directly in the field.

This project will permit wine-makers to take timely and appropriate measures for control, thereby preventing wine spoilage or quality decline without investing significant amounts of budget into expensive RT-PCR or traditional microbiology tests, which can represent an overwhelming burden for small and medium enterprises.

Availability of this device for wine-makers will help minimize economic losses caused by wine spoilage. The device can potentially be deployed in wine-producing facilities at different stages of wine production, contributing to the standardization of wine spoilage detection protocols in the industry.

The intellectual property and research findings of this project are intended to be secured through two international patents. The project also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of both countries in agriculture through the development of high-end innovations addressing the needs of both participating sides.

During the implementation of the project, a positive control DNA library isolated from wine contaminated with wine spoilage microorganisms was obtained.

DNA samples and microorganism cultures are available upon request.