The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic ushered in the era of the ubiquitous DIY lateral flow test, developed to detect the presence of a human pathogen, COVID-19. 

The lateral flow device (LFD) has been used in clinical settings for six decades. And as the technology has advanced, applications have come to include cancer and diabetes research, drug screening, environmental testing, food safety and veterinary diagnostics

Symptomology of Angelonia flower break virus (AnFBV, Alphacarmovirus) was first observed in 2005 on Angelonia angustifolia plants grown in Germany, Israel and the U.S.  Symptoms included leaf mottling, flower break and stunting, leading researchers to suspect viral etiology.  Subsequent sequence analysis of plant products revealed the presence of an uncharacterized virus, most closely related to Pelargonium flower break virus (PFVB) and Carnation mottle virus (CarMV), both in the genus Carmovirus.  Following the completion of Koch’s postulates, the new virus was named Angelonia flower break virus.

In 2007, Meter Group teamed together with NASA/JPL to develop a sensor that they sent to a lander on Mars to do research on the Martian soil. This was a very valuable partnership that helped Meter Group develop key technology that they were able to use in their TEROS sensors and thermal properties/TEMPOS technology. 

Agdia Commercializes ImmunoStrip® Product for Detection of Corn Belt Pathogen Causing Stewart’s Wilt

 Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii (Syn. Erwinia stewartii), previously Pseudomonas stewartii, is the species of bacterium responsible for Stewart’s wilt on field or dent corn (Zea mays), sweetcorn (Zea mays subsp. mays) and popcorn (Zea mays subsp. everta).  Disease symptomology was first observed in the late 19th century; however, definitive claim to the initial discovery is subject to debate.  In the late 1880’s, T.J. Burrill described a new bacterial disease of field corn in southern Illinois.  Despite isolating bacteria from symptomatic plant tissue, Burrill was unable to inoculate field corn plants for further study.  Thereafter, symptomology was attributed to drought, high pressure from chinch bugs and the unknown bacteria.  Many believe Burrill’s was the first description of what we now know to be Stewart’s wilt.