MicroBioSystems, LP, is a small, woman-owned spin-off company that customizes and
commercializes technologies developed at the National Center for Design of Molecular
Function (NCDMF). Located at the Utah State University Innovation Campus, MBS develops,
produces and markets technology used to detect and identify microbial samples
(as well as protein analytes). MBS is capable of producing production prototypes,
developing system protocols and providing technical support for end users.
The microbial detection and identification technologies owned and developed by MBS
offer numerous benefits over the current state of the art. Our detection technology
requires (1) no reagents (thus reducing cost per test), (2) little time (<1-2 seconds
and can be used for continual monitoring), (3) no extensive operator training and (4)
no sample contact. Our identification technology is based upon capture of microbes with
novel small molecules, tethered to disposable chips, that are (1) lesss expensive to produce
than antibody or nucleotide-based materials, and (2) far more stable than protein or DNA
reagents required for other assays. Different elements of these technologies can be
combined to deliver a system that provides an appropriate detection limit, speed and
cost for each product need. Products can be developed using MBS technologies to replace
slower, more expensive and less specific microbial testing. Examples include:
IEEE Real Time Detection Report
MBS personnel:
Christopher R. Lloyd, Ph.D. is the Director of Research and Development for MicroBioSystems.
He holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, both from the University
of Utah. Dr. Lloyd has worked in human assay development for the Associated Regional and
University Pathologists (A.R.U.P.) in Salt Lake City, UT and as a Test Director at the U. S.
Army Dugway Proving Grounds (chemical and biological detection). Dr. Lloyds research experience includes
bioanalytical methodology verification, sol-gel biochemistry, inorganic and biological kinetics,
protein chemistry, and microbial detection and identification methodologies.
Shayne C. Rich, MS ME. is a mechanical engineer. He has extensive experience in the
design and integration of electro-mechanical systems and has served as project manager and
system engineer for several cutting-edge robotics companies. Mr. Richs areas of experience
include vehicle dynamics, control systems, real-time programming, machine design and analysis,
and system integration.
MBS partners:
Linda S. Powers, Ph.D. is the Director of the NCDMF, Professor of Electrical Engineering,
Professor of Biological and Irrigation Engineering, and Adjunct Professor of Physics at Utah
State University. Before joining the USU faculty in 1988, Dr. Powers was a member of the
technical staff of AT&T Bell Laboratories for 13 years. From 1978-1998, she was an Adjunct
Professor Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and
she has also been a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University.
Dr. Powers has a broad scope of expertise from biochemistry to electrical engineering, and
has considerable experience in hemeprotein catalysis, structural biology, and the design and
construction of optical and X-ray instrumentation. Her current research areas include detection
of viable microbes on surfaces and the development of microbe detection technology. This work
led to two patents with two pending. Dr. Powers was a pioneer in the use of X-ray absorption
spectroscopy for the investigation of biological problems and has authored more than 100
technical publications in refereed journals and books. She has served on several advisory
boards of the American Physical Society, on editorial boards of Biophysical Journal and
International Series in Basic and Applied Biological Physics, and recently on the NRC committee
that authored the 1999 report Chemical and Biological Terrorism: Research and Development to
Improve Civilian Medical Response. Dr. Powers is a fellow of the American Physical Society (1983)
and the American Institute of Chemists (1987) and her honors include the US Bioenergetics Award
of the Biophysical Society (1982) and the State of Utah Governors Metal for Science and
Technology (1994). Dr. Powers completed her M.A. in physics and Ph.D. in biophysics (1976)
at Harvard University.
Walther R. Ellis, Jr., Ph.D. is the Associate Director of the NCDMF and Research
Professor of Biological Engineering at USU. He holds a B.A. degree in German, B.S. and M.S.
degrees in Chemistry from the University of Miami, and a Ph.D. degree in Bioinorganic Chemistry
from the California Institute of Technology. He has a broad background in microbiology, molecular biology,
inorganic chemistry, and biophysical chemistry. Dr. Ellis research areas of expertise include
biological kinetics, bioelectrochemistry, sol-gel technology, microbial diagnostics, microbial
degradations of xenobiotics, and interactions of biopolymers with surfaces.
Dr. Christopher R. Lloyd
MicroBioSystems, LP
Suite 114
1780 N. Research Park Way
North Logan, UT 84341
USA
crlloyd@microbe-systems.com
(435) 994-0206 (mobile)
