Ms Jennifer Soroka1, Dr Eddi Pianca2, Mr Sam Tomkins2, Dr Dianne Gleeson1, Dr Alejandro Trujillo-Gonzalez1
1University of Canberra, EcoDNA, Australian National eDNA Reference Centre (NeRC), BRUCE, Australia, 2University of Canberra, Faculty of Arts & Design, BRUCE, Australia
Biography:
Jenn Soroka is the Senior Research Officer of the Australian National eDNA Reference Centre at the University of Canberra. As an ecologist, she focuses on applying eDNA molecular techniques in the context of biosecurity and conservation for targeted single-species detection and metabarcoding.
Abstract:
Exotic insects pose important biosecurity risks to Australia, where widespread incursions could cost the country billions of dollars to manage and minimize. Shipping containers carry approximately 90% of global trade and have been repeatedly reported to translocate hitchhiker pests. An automated dust sampler was designed by the Australian National eDNA Reference Centre to be installed inside shipping containers and automatically collect airborne eDNA during vessel voyages, minimizing disruption to the industry while complementing biosecurity surveillance using environmental DNA-based molecular methods.
Prototype trials were conducted inside shipping containers at an empty container park in Sydney, Australia. Using magnetic strips, the prototypes were affixed to the doors, side panels and back walls of the shipping container. Fine pumice dust (10g) was spiked with increasing concentrations of synthetic oligonucleotides (10^7-10^11 copies) and used in two experiments to assess eDNA capture and recovery under “airflow” and “no airflow” conditions. In the first, air circulation was generated with fans to disperse spiked dust. In the second, spiked dust was dispensed at a single point within the container, with no supplemented circulation.
DNA capture and detection was significantly higher in the airflow versus no airflow experiment (p<0.001). Synthetic dsDNA was captured and detectable in the airflow experiment across all concentrations, with detection success increasing at higher DNA concentrations. On the other hand, detection of DNA under no airflow conditions only occurred at the higher DNA concentrations (10^10-10^11 copies/10g dust), where detection success was significantly higher in prototypes positioned directly above or near the dust deposition site.
Future iterations of prototype design and deployment will be made based on results and logistical feedback from these trials.