BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ZContent.net//ZapCalLib 1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Immiscible Filtration Assisted by Surface Tension (IFAST) Systems f or Resource-Limited Bacterial Detection LOCATION:Chemistry A101 TZID:America/Denver DTSTART:20211103T160000 UID:2026-04-19-01-01-22@natsci.colostate.edu DTSTAMP:20260419T010122 Description:Literature Seminar:\n\nBacterial testing is extensively utilize d in the United States for health monitoring and preventative care. One si tuation in which it is particularly important is in the detection of Group B Streptococcus\, or GBS\, in pregnant individuals. GBS colonization duri ng pregnancy is particularly dangerous for both the mother and child\; it is estimated that 130\,000 annual fetal &\; infant deaths are caused by preventable GBS disease. To combat this\, testing and subsequent antibiot ics are utilized to prevent GBS spread and infection. Unfortunately\, in m any lower-middle-income countries (LMIC)\, the GBS testing methodologies u tilized by non-LMIC countries are not viable due to resource limitations.  To address this testing disparity\, easily accessible\, cheap\, and speci fic point-of-care assays for GBS are badly needed. Immiscible Filtration A ssisted by Surface Tension (IFAST) systems are a potential tool for addres sing this need. IFAST filtration leverages the interfacial energy present between immiscible liquids\, allowing a single-step filtration and washing of bacteria captured by immunomagnetic microparticles. The microparticles with captured bacteria are magnetically drawn out of the aqueous solution and through the immiscible liquid interface\, leaving behind any unbound material such as other bacteria\, the aqueous solution itself\, and other matrix components. This results in a simple-to-conduct filtration and wash ing procedure\, opening the door for sensitive and specific immunoassays i n areas where a laboratory environment is inaccessible. 4:00 pm END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR